With comprehensive wins against the two world cup finalists, France and Italy, together with a fine victory by their reserve side against Romania, Holland had become many people s favourites to win the tournament.
The style of football they have produced, particularly on the counter attack, has endeared them to nearly everyone who has watched them.
Russia started the tournament slowly but in their must win game against Sweden in the final group match they produced a performance of fast flowing football that made most observers sit up and take notice.
It was against that background that this particular quarter-final promised to be a classic. So the world sat down with great anticipation to watch the game. It did not disappoint but in truth, the Dutch did. Russia …