I had felt all along that this would be a tough match - or at least ever since Sweden lost to the Russians in the group stages. There is no valid criticism for the Dutch team in my opinion. You play your way and with the players you have and leave the rest for the press and the spectators. Soccer is one of the cruelest of games - you can be hopeful and energetic one second and defeated and exhausted the next.
Watching the game I was just as impressed with the Dutch as I was the Russians. The oft-criticised Dutch defense did not look at all flawed until van Bronkhorst was caught out of position and Torbinski was allowed to finish off that world-class Arshavin cross. I am somewhat saddened for the Dutch because they play a style utterly devoted to the beauty of the game; however, the Russians held their ground very well and when given the chance they flew down the sidelines with little or no hesitation in their attacking efforts; an excellent transition game.
The joy of this tournament is the passion of the players - national pride, sometimes an ugly thing - shines through. Today, it was the Russians who won. The rest is to figure out later.
I often had Russia picked as the Cinderella team - feeling for sure that the clock had struck midnight when they took the field versus the Dutch. Not today though; today there is no Cinderella. It was an amazing game.
Lucia Dvorska
Daniella Sarahyba
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Really amazing game... I wrote here that modern football is not science or the set of the stars. But JAZZ. And we could feel this jazz. I am really proud today, because I am Russsian
ExMax
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