Hello everyone, and welcome back to my Euro 2008 column.
Today, I am peering over Russia's success over the Netherlands and tonight's highly anticipated game, Italy vs. Spain
Both quarter-finals could not be decided in normal time. So it was left in extra time to decide which team would march one step further in the competition and who would simply pack their bags and go home to watch the rest of the Euro 2008 on the big screen.
Russia vs. Netherlands
In what may have been the upset of the tournament, the Russian revolution overran the Orange storm with a three goal wipe-out job that saw the awe-inspiring Dutch crashing and burning in Russian hell.
If the first half was any indication to how events would unfold in the 2nd half and beyond, it was Russia having the better of it with long-range efforts from Kolodin's right footer on target as always and, putting heavy pressure on Van Der Sar's shoulders.
It was a surprise the first 45 minutes of play ended goalless. Equally efforts from Van Der Vaart, Bouhlarouz and Van Nistelroy could not change the outcome either!
Second half
The Russians walked in the second half badder, meaner, stronger, leaner and most of all with purpose. They set out quickly to make their intentions loud and clear.
They finally found what they were looking for, on 56th minute with a left footer from Pavluchenko finding the back of Van Der Sar's net, a feat up until then only Thierry Henry of France had managed to achieve in this competition so far!
Russia looked all smiles and set to advance into the semi, with further efforts from Saenki and Pavluchenko mounting the onslaught onto the Dutch's defense, looking to screw the last nail into the Dutch's coffin.
However, the orange storm was still not showing signs of abating, with Sjneider's free kick on 86th minute finding Van Nistelroy's diving header into promised land for the late equaliser, the Dutch looked anything but dead. Russia 1 - 1 The Netherlands!
So off we were for another half hour of extra time before the much-dreaded penalty shoot out session would unfold if the score was to remain a draw.
Yet again the Russians made their intentions heard, they were in no mood for penalties; early efforts from Arshavin, Pavlyuchenko, Kolodin, Zhirkov and Torbinsky may not have found the back of the net, but it was a demonstration of strength that did the damage to the Dutch's defense, eventually the breach was exploited with Torbinsky's goal on the 112th minute and Arshavin's thor hammer blow on the 116th minute, which buried the Dutch dream six feet deep.
The orange storm evaporated in the most painful fashion; in the qualifying stages the Netherlands looked so dominant, having deposed of early favourites Italy 3-0 and France 4-1. The Dutch went in the quarter-finals with high expectations on their shoulders and fans enthusiasm and attendance numbers at games yet to be seen from other nations.
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