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RUSSIA SEND HOLLAND HOME
Holland saw the victory grasp from their hands as Russia clinched Euro-2008
semifinal spot.
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Photo: english.sport-express.ru
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Andrei Arshavin justified Guus Hiddink's hopes as the Dutch
coach included Zenit playmaker into Russia's Euro-2008 squad.
Arshavin scored one and added one assist to lead his national team into
semifinals.
Marco van Basten returned the Dutch team first-choice players to the starting
line-up after giving them a short rest in a match against Romania.
Nevertheless, it was Russia who made a quick start to the game with Yuri
Zhirkov having the first chance to open the scoreline.
Guus Hiddink's side continued pressing the opponents' goal, but it turned
only in the second half when Russia fired in the opener.
Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his third goal of the tournament and it seemed
to have crushed Dutch fans' hopes.
Ruud van Nistelroy headed in and forced an extra half-hour.
The teams remained silent in the first extra half, while the second one
turned to be disastrous for Netherlands and triumphal for Russia.
Andrei Arshavin delivered a marvelous assist to Dmitri Torbbinsky who
took Russia 2-1 ahead.
Zenit St. Petersburg leader then put the final stop to the fight to send
Holland back home.
Russia will next play their Group D fellows Spain who defeated the World
champions Italy on penalties 4-2.
Sport
Express Daily, 23 Jun 2008
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