Euro 2008 Diary [day15]

Russia 3-1 Netherlands (aet)

"If you took an aerial photo of this city today it would look like a piece of toast... covered in marmalade" is Peter Drury's way of saying there are a lot of Dutch fans in Basel for this quarter final. Despite overwhelming Dutch support it's Russia who have the best of the opening fifteen minutes with Yuri Zhirkov testing Edwin Van der Sar with a near post free-kick. The Dutch keeper is the busier of the two and he also gets down well to turn an Andrei Arshavin effort round the post as well as turning the longest of long range efforts from Denis Kolodin over the bar.

The Netherlands' best chances are coming from set pieces, most notably Rafael Van der Vaart's vicious inswinging delivery that just evades Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Nigel de Jong. It is Van Nistelrooy who first tests Akinfeev as he rolls his marker before striking a low shot that the Russian keeper turns away. Van der Varrt also has a chance, firing straight at Igor Akinfeev after being played in by what Jim Beglin terms "a Titus Bramble moment" from Kolodin, causing at least one television in the Wigan area to be struck by a remote control... well perhaps the fireplace to the side of the television anyway.

In the second half Khalid Boulahrouz is booked for what Drury calls 'a meat-eaters tackle' although that sounds strangely like an unfortunate Victorian ailment. The Dutch defender is subbed soon after, receiving a standing ovation from the ground in view of his recent bereavement. Within minutes the Russians are in front; Sergei Semak gets down the left flank and crosses for Roman Pavluchenko to volley home. Russia are in control and have chances to double their lead as Aleksandr Anyukov is denied by Van der Sar, and then as they fail in an attempt to walk an attack into the Dutch goal.

Instead, their failure to make the game safe, along with their failure to defend set-pieces costs them as five minutes from time Van Nistelrooy heads home Wesley Sneijder's cross for the equaliser; "Orange is bright again, and has a future" yells Drury. In the final minutes there is still time for further drama as Kolodin is shown a second yellow card for a foul on Sneijder, however after consultation with his linesman, Lubos Michel quickly rescinds his decision to a goal-kick, so it remains eleven-a-side for extra-time.

Both sides forge chances in the opening half of extra time, Van Nistelrooy threatening for the Dutch but Russia have the better chances; Pavlyuchenko rattling the crossbar as he cuts inside. Russia finally get their reward in the second period as Arshavin manages to dink a high cross over Van der Sar and Dmitri Torbinski wins the race to knock it over the line and spark a good old fashioned twenty-two man pile on by the corner flag. Within two minutes Russia double their advantage as Arshavin reacts quicker than anyone to a long throw and via a deflection pokes the ball through Van der Sar's legs. Russia progress and Gus Hiddink skips onto the field in celebration like an oversized child heading to the zoo.