Jun 21, 2008, 23:11 GMT
Basle, Switzerland - Dutchman Guus Hiddink took his young Russian side to a historic 3-1 extra time victory on Saturday against his compatriots to lead the Russians into the Euro 2008 semi-finals.
Russian Roman Pavlyuchenko celebrates after the EURO 2008 Quarter Final match between the Netherlands and Russia at the St Jakob Park stadium, Basel, Switzerland 21 June 2008. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI
Hiddink's skillful side surprisingly played the Dutch favourites off the park - and won with goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko, Dimitri Torbinsky and the majestic Andrei Arshavin to set up a semi-final clash against the winner of the quarter-final between Spain and Italy.
The game between Italy and Spain will be watched by French football legend Zinedine Zidane and King Juan Carlos I and wife Queen Sofia. Austrian Chancellor, Alfred Gusenbauer, will also be among the dignitaries.
The Dutch goal was scored by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took the game into extra time with his 86th minute equalizer.
Russia have improved remarkably since starting out with a 4-1 thrashing from Spain, thanks to the guile of Hiddink - and to the explosion of Arshavin, suspended for Russia's first two games.
Many commentators questioned Hiddink's decision to take Arshavin to the tournament despite the suspension, but have been silenced by superlative displays from the Zenit youngster against Sweden and now the Netherlands.
Hiddink has now taken three different countries (the Netherlands, South Korea and now Russia) to the semi-finals of a major football competition.
Interestingly, the three quarter-finals played so far have all been won by teams who finished second in their first-round group, despite having less time to prepare for the quarters than the first- placed teams.
'I am really proud of my team tonight. It was fantastic what my players achieved. I have to pay them a compliment for their tactics.
'Normally you are handicapped when the other side scores such a late goal, but we were dominant. We were physically and tactically dominant,' a delighted Hiddink said.
His Dutch counterpart Marco van Basten said that his side had simply not managed to take control of the game. 'We could not convert our chances.
'We had some physical problems. My players simply had no more strength. That is a pity, but the Russians deserved the victory, they were clearly the better side.'
Russia were dominant in the first and second half and Palyuchenko's volley took them ahead in the 56th minute, on a centre from the left from Sergei Semak.
Russia then missed good chances to put the Dutch out of their misery, and paid the price when Van Nistelrooy made it 1-1 by heading in a Wesley Sneijder free-kick in the 86th minute.
In second-half injury time Russian Denis Kolodin was shown a second yellow card after fouling Sneijder, but referee Lubos Michel was told by his assistant that the ball had already crossed the line and the referee then withdrew the booking allowing Kolodin to stay on the field.
A Dutch revival seemed on the cards. Instead, Van Basten's team looked exhausted and Russia took advantage to create several good chances on the break.
Eight minutes from the end of extra-time, with penalties looking, the magnificent Arshavin centred for Torbinksy to tap in from close range.
Arshavin then rounded off a remarkable performance by making it 3- 1 with a cheeky shot that went through Edwin Van Der Sar's legs.
Earlier on Saturday, media in Germany reported that Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche said his employees could take Wednesday evening off to watch the semi-final between Germany and Turkey.
A company spokesperson said that plants should work out the modalities themselves.
Daimler traditionally has a large number of Turkish workers and Zetsche himself was born in Istanbul.
Croatian captain Niko Kovac, meanwhile, has admitted that his side's crushing Euro 2008 quarter-final defeat to Turkey will likely be his last for the national team.
'The game against Turkey could be my last for Croatia,' said the defender following Friday's penalty shoot-out loss.
'I am now 36 years old. I don't really have many chances left to make this disappear. I will carry it around with me for the rest of my life.'
Kovac said he still had to discuss the issue with coach Slaven Bilic but added, 'I think I'll call it a day.'
Kovac won his 79th cap against Turkey and currently plays with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg.
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