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Euro 2008 - Russia vs Netherlands
2008-06-21 08:58
by Bob Timmermann

Today in Basel at 11:45 am PT, the third quarterfinal in Euro 2008 will take place. The tournament's best team so far, the Netherlands or as we call back in The Hague, Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, will take on Russia.

The Dutch rolled through the tournament, beating Italy 3-0, France 4-1, and finally shutting out Romania 2-0 playing mostly reserves. The Russians survived an opening 4-1 loss to Spain to move on with a 1-0 win over Greece and a 2-0 win over Sweden.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten should have his full squad available. Defender Khalid Boularhouz had left training camp to be with his wife as their prematurely born daughter passed away Wednesday.

The Russians are coached by a former Dutch national coach, Guus Hiddink.

The Russians (then Soviets) and the Dutch met in the 1988 Euro final and in that match van Basten scored one of the most spectacular goals in soccer history. Or at least one of the most spectacular on that big of a stage. Sorry for the grainy video, but if you want to watch a longer video, you can find them.

The Dutch and Russians have met eight times and the Dutch lead the alltime series 4-2-2, including a 2-0 win in the Euro 1988 final.

Comments
2008-06-21 09:46:50
1.   Greg Brock
There are two things in this world I can't stand.

People who are intolerant of other people's cultures...And the Dutch!

2008-06-21 11:14:30
2.   Johan
If you can't get behind a team that has guy named Ruud Van Nistelrooy on it, you've got issues.
2008-06-21 11:20:56
3.   Bob Timmermann
Wikipedia, the world's foremost authority, states that van Nistlerooy has decided to no longer use the van Nistlerooij spelling.

Learn all about the digraph "ij"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IJ_%28digraph%29

2008-06-21 11:45:43
4.   Bob Timmermann
Hey, this is on ABC. Go figure.
2008-06-21 12:02:55
5.   Ken Arneson
I might root for Russia just because I can't stand the font on the Dutch uniforms.
2008-06-21 12:05:00
6.   Bob Timmermann
I dislike the Italians' font more. It's all lower case. It's like their a bunch of blue e.e. cummings poems running around the field.
2008-06-21 12:10:07
7.   Ken Arneson
I don't mind the Dutch letters, it's the numbers I can't stand.
2008-06-21 12:10:22
8.   underdog
Surprisingly even so far, or even leaning in the Russians favor to start. This one could be a lot closer than I expected.
2008-06-21 12:14:34
9.   Bob Timmermann
Ken is not a big fan of "Using Electrical Tape to Make Lame Looking Numbers" font.
2008-06-21 12:19:12
10.   Ken Arneson
The Dutch are starting to break down the Russian defense and get some good chances. But the Russians are counterattacking well, too. It won't stay 0-0 much longer.
2008-06-21 12:21:20
11.   underdog
From the Yahoo UK Euro liveblogger: "My word this boy has a foot like a traction engine. There, I said it. Never again."
2008-06-21 12:22:00
12.   thinkblue88
This games is being watched on three TV's in my house. Why? I don't know.
2008-06-21 12:22:47
13.   Bob Timmermann
11
Like one of these?
http://tinyurl.com/4l76eo
2008-06-21 12:29:55
14.   underdog
Since we're talking uniforms, give me Greece's clean white with blue trim and Greek-ish font. τέλειος!
2008-06-21 12:31:44
15.   underdog
He was talking about Kolodin, btw.

And 13 I have a feeling that's not what he was picturing.

2008-06-21 12:37:08
16.   Bob Timmermann
We never got to see the full checkerboards of Croatia.

I'm going off to cry for a bit.

2008-06-21 12:38:16
17.   Ken Arneson
10 Of course, two days ago I emailed some friends and said that Turkey had used up all their miracles when they beat the Czechs. So take my predictions for what it's worth.
2008-06-21 12:41:07
18.   schoffle
That was quite a good 1st half, to my surprise Russia held their own. The ABC commentators are making me wish that there was a way to get a "stadium only" type feed, just crowd noise.

Bob according to Borders your book recomendation is no longer published, I guess I could check amazon for a used version but that doesn't seem appropriate for a gift, thanks anyway.

2008-06-21 12:43:36
19.   Bob Timmermann
18
Check alibris.com or Powells and see if they have one that is unused.
2008-06-21 12:49:29
20.   underdog
I wonder if a modern-day young ballplayer would have interest in "Ball Four" which I finally just read. It's very much of its era but still an important book. Maybe it would depress him too much though. (But it's also quite funny.) Or "The Glory of Their Times"? (Uh, even more dated, but classic.)

Okay, let's go Orange, let's get it going in the 2nd half!

2008-06-21 12:58:41
21.   Ken Arneson
Wow. Shock across the Netherlands after that one.
2008-06-21 12:59:10
22.   schoffle
alibris - new only from $245, I am not that close to the kid.

Wow Russia

2008-06-21 13:02:10
23.   Bob Timmermann
The Dutch must have touched the coat.
2008-06-21 13:03:11
24.   Bob Timmermann
22
How about a subscription to Maxim then?
2008-06-21 13:07:30
25.   schoffle
Ok so for the linguist's out there is the Dutch name Vaart pronounced in a funny way?
2008-06-21 13:10:08
26.   schoffle
22

lol

I think I will go with everyones favorite family gift .... cold hard cash

2008-06-21 13:15:35
27.   Ken Arneson
25 According to this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_phonology#Consonants

that would depend on which Dutch dialect you speak.

2008-06-21 13:16:42
28.   underdog
Russia will be regretting that yellow card if they hold on here and make the next round.
2008-06-21 13:28:49
29.   Ken Arneson
Dang, I guess I'll have watch 30 more minutes of electrical tape.
2008-06-21 13:30:25
30.   underdog
There we go!

Damn, I kind of hope this doesn't go to extra time, though, because I'd have to miss that.

2008-06-21 13:30:46
31.   schoffle
Game on
2008-06-21 13:35:29
32.   schoffle
That is too funny the ref begs the linesman to give him a reason to take back the 2nd yellow from the russian.

Free football today

2008-06-21 13:36:52
33.   schoffle
Anyone else notice that the Dutch fans (in their orange shirts) look just like empty seats?
2008-06-21 13:39:30
34.   underdog
Come on, hurry up and end!
2008-06-21 13:45:43
35.   schoffle
no more golden goal it is 2 15 min halfs again
2008-06-21 13:49:12
36.   Ken Arneson
This extra time period is quite entertaining.
2008-06-21 13:56:13
37.   schoffle
It was, not sure how long they will go in the 2nd before they both shut it down and wait for PKs
2008-06-21 14:01:56
38.   Travis08
Almost a hilarious own goal.
2008-06-21 14:03:22
39.   Bob Timmermann
Woe betide the team that wins its group.
2008-06-21 14:04:07
40.   Ken Arneson
Heckuva goal! Probably the most amazing thing is that the ball went to the left of the post, and the player went to the right, without colliding with it.
2008-06-21 14:07:15
41.   Bob Timmermann
Through the five hole!
2008-06-21 14:08:21
42.   schoffle
Wow and wow
2008-06-21 14:09:01
43.   Bob Timmermann
OK, now on to the bigger problem. Why doesn't my MacBook recognize that my external HD is plugged into the Firewire port?
2008-06-21 14:09:34
44.   Ken Arneson
Wowzers.
2008-06-21 14:14:04
45.   Ken Arneson
This a very likeable Russian squad. Even when they were running circles around Sweden, I had to admire their style.
2008-06-21 20:24:37
46.   underdog
I've really come to like this Russian team, too. Maybe I shouldn't be such a self-loating 1/4 Russian and embrace my family. Идет Россия!
2008-06-21 20:36:18
47.   underdog
Btw, if you missed the game (or any of them, it appears), all the highlights are nicely put together here:

http://www.footytube.com/category/videos/euro-2008/

2008-06-21 20:41:36
48.   underdog
On further review, that red card that was pulled after they realized the ball was out near the end of regulation, while it seemed like the right call to overturn himself there, it wasn't. That ball was still in play. Should've been in, and a red card on the key Russian player. Don't know if that would've changed everything but it might very well.

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