A dramatic extra time victory saw Russia knock out favourites Holland 3-1 to set up a semi-final against Spain or Italy. Roman Pavlyuchenko put them ahead and Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s header forced Russia into extra time, but the collapse of the Oranje armada was only delayed as Torbinski and Arshavin hit the back of the net.

Holland approached this game with confidence following their 100 per cent run in the group stages. Coach Marco Van Basten preferred Dirk Kuyt over Arjen Robben with Rafael Van der Vaart playing behind the lone striker. Robin Van Persie was also left out. Kalhid Boulharouz retained his place and the Dutch wore black armbands in remembrance of the defender’s baby daughter, who died earlier this week.

Holland native Guus Hiddink opted for only one change in his starting formation. Igor Semshov replaced Diniyar Bilyaletdinov while Sergei Ignashevich kept his place at the centre of the defence. Back in February 2007 Holland hammered Russia at 4-1 in a friendly game, but it was a completely different story this time around.

In the first few minutes of the game the Dutch seemed quite aware of the Russians’ threat and often played with 10 men behind the ball. Semshov couldn’t reach Andrei Arshavin’s long ball while on the opposite side Kuyt headed wide a cross from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst.

Then Yuri Zhirkov’s free-kick from the left side of the penalty box was brilliantly deflected out for a corner by Edwin Van der Sar. Denis Kolodin tried from distance and Roman Pavlyuchenko went close with an header confirming that the Russians had the edge. Holland came out from their shell and kept possession, but the Russians had no trouble handling Van der Vaart’s free-kick and Wesley Sneijder’s effort.

The biggest chance for the Oranje came when Ruud Van Nistelrooy was brought down on the right side and from the following free-kick he missed the impact with the ball when he had no one in front of him. Arshavin on the counter attack cut inside the box and his shot on the far post was palmed away by the Dutch ‘keeper, who looked at his best tonight.

On 32 minutes Kolodin took another long distance shot but once again Van der Sar was superb to save it. Only 60 seconds later the centre-back tried again with another powerful attempt from about 35 metres, but was unlucky.

Van Nistelrooy controlled the ball in the box and his low shot was saved by Afinkeev. Kolodin gave the ball away too easily before the break and Van der Vaart’s effort was punched away by the ‘keeper. The teams ended the first half all square, but Russia were perhaps the better side.

Van Persie stepped in for Kuyt in the second half and took less than a minute to create an opening. Boulahrouz got himself booked for a nasty tackle on Arshavin and Van Basten preferred to replace him with Johnny Heitinga. Van Persie looked really active and ended up elbowing Ivan Saenko and saw yellow. Arshavin’s curled free-kick went inches wide but moments after Semak crossed the ball into the box from the left side and Pavlyuchenko clinically put the ball past Van der Sar – Russia were deservedly ahead.

Holland looked lost and dominated, Saenko’s left-foot effort could have closed the game but went wide. The Dutch were nervous, Van der Vaart was the third Oranje to be booked and Van Basten tried his last chance by putting in Sulley Afellay for Orlando Engelaar, in poor form tonight.

The Dutch created a chance from a corner kick – Igor Afinkeev missed the ball but Van Persie headed wide. However, De Jong saved them by anticipating Zyryanov who was trying to serve Pavlyuchenko inside the box.

Russia could have scored one of this Euros’ best goals with a triangular action between three of their men brought Aleksandr Anyukov in front of the net but his effort was ineffective. Then Arshavin’s cross went right across the penalty area but Saenko was to far behind the ball to tap in. Van Nistelrooy proved all his international experience by controlling the ball just outside the box and getting himself fouled by Kolodin, who got booked and will miss the next tie. Van Persie’s screamer was too high.

Sneijder and Van der Vaart tried from outside the box but their poor attempts were controlled by Afinkeev, on the break instead the blond Russian striker could have doubled their lead but was blocked by the Dutch ‘keeper. Sneijder took the leadership in midfield but Zhirkov could have sent them KO when his tap-in with Van der Sar on the floor was deflected by a defender.

Holland switched to a 3-4-3 formation desperate for an equaliser that came with less than five minutes to go with a fantastic header from Van Nistelrooy who caught the Russian defence napping on a free kick from Sneijder. Russia were rocking and Kolodin thought he had been sent off for a stupid tackle over the Real Madrid midfielder, but the ball had previously crossed the line so the referee had to withdraw his decision meaning the centre-back could play on.

The first half of extra time started at a good tempo. Pavlyuchenko could have scored a marvellous goal - his strike smashed into the bar. Another great chance came with Torbinski who received the ball from Arshavin after a fantastic run but couldn’t hit the back of the net. Arshavin looked inspired and his wonderful performance lived up to the hype. Russia were dominating at this stage, and Kolodin’s tremendous free-kick made the Dutch shiver.

Second half of the extra time and Russia should have been awarded a penalty. Zhirkov broke into the box and was brought down from behind by Heitinga – clear penalty but the referee waved to play on. Russia were all over the place, the ball crossed in the middle by from the left and Pavlyuchenko’s effort was off target. Holland finally crossed their half and Ignashevich could have headed it in behind his own ‘keeper, who was understandably furious.

Russia on the counter attack, Arshavin skipped past the slow Andrè Ooijer and his lobbed cross caught Van der Sar out of position – tap in from Torbinski and 2-1 for Russia. Holland looked tired and unable to recover while the Russian fans were chanting the names of their heroes. The Dutch defence was surprised by a throw in and it was easy for Arshavin to put the third behind Van der Sar.

Russia are in the semi-finals for the first time after the collapse of the Soviet Union and will be facing one out of Spain and Italy. No excuses for Holland, there was only one team on the pitch tonight – Russia.
Holland: Van der Sar; Boulahrouz (Heitinga 54), Oojer, Mathijsen, Van Bronckhorst; De Jong, Engelaar (Afellay 62); Kuyt (Van Persie 46), Van Der Vaart, Sneijder; Van Nistelrooy

Russia: Afinkeev; Anyukov, Ignatsevich, Kolodin, Zhirkov; Semak; Semshov (Bilyaletdinov 69), Zyrianov, Arshavin, Saenko (Torbinski 81); Pavlyuchenko (Sychev 114)

Ref: Michel (Svk)

Ref From channel4.com

Germany weathered a Portuguese fight-back to book a place in the semi-finals with a 3-2 win in a thrilling encounter that ends Luiz Felipe Scolari’s reign.

The quarter-finals began with an appetising battle between two teams listed amongst the favourites to clinch the silverware.

These two sides hadn’t planned to meet each other at this early stage, but Germany’s defeat against Croatia put them on a collision course.

A second-string Portugal fell to a defeat in their final game against Switzerland, but Luiz Felipe Scolari had all his stars at his disposal in Basel.

Lukas Podolski, who was Germany’s three-goal hero in Group B, passed a late fitness test to start alongside Miroslav Klose, but Thorsten Frings was out.

Coach Joachim Low was forced to watch from the stands after being sent off against Austria for a touchline altercation.

It was a slow start on an awful pitch, Thomas Hitzlsperger hit two ambitious efforts, one from a free-kick, but the closest he came to scoring was hitting Deco full in the face.

Nuno Gomes missed a good headed chance in the 10th minute when he failed to react to a precise ball from Chelsea new boy Jose Bosignwa.

Simao Sabrosa blasted at the near post, but Jens Lehmann was ready and easily caught his fierce effort.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was suspended against Austria, looked dangerous pushing down the wing.

Arne Friedrich had to be at his best to rob Cristiano Ronaldo as he broke into the German box and Joao Moutinho was inches away when he was caught by surprise by a superb Bosingwa cross and threw a knee at it.

Germany went ahead through Schweinsteiger after 22 minutes when Michael Ballack broke and fed Podolski who raced down the wing to find his Bayern Munich teammate with a pinpoint low cross.

And Germany went 2-0 up almost immediately! A Schweinsteiger free-kick was easily nodded home by Klose for his first goal of the competition. Portugal’s set-piece gremlins had made themselves felt and it was a long way back.

Ronaldo sparked to life and exchanged a delightful one-two with Simao, but the Germans cleared for a corner.

The Manchester United star’s pace was causing problems and winning corners and he was decisive in the goal that made it 2-1 just before half-time.

The former Sporting Lisbon genius broke through and saw his effort stopped by Lehmann’s outstretched hand only to fall to Nuno Gomes who forced the ball in past Per Mertesacker on the line.

Ballack forced a near-post parry from Ricardo after he turned Bosingwa, but Ronaldo drove just wide a minute later.

Portugal were forcing the pace and Germany were relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

That pattern continued at the start of the second period and Friedrich and Lahm were booked early on for fouls on Ronaldo and Simao.

Simone Pepe missed a great chance from a corner that was flicked on by Deco, but his effort flew over the bar.

The running was all coming from the Portuguese, but they were incredibly undone by another set-piece!

Ricardo came flapping at a free-kick and it was easy for Ballack to head home for 3-1, albeit with a small push on Paulo Ferreira, just after the hour mark.

Scolari threw on youngster Nani for captain Nuno Gomes with 66 minutes played in the hope of turning things around.

Petit’s long-range effort was surprisingly well struck, but proved a routine save for Lehmann.

Euro 2004’s runners-up were dominating possession, but their heads started to go down as they couldn’t find a way through Germany’s solid back line.

Portugal stroked the ball around on the edge of the German box, but there was no final product until the 87th minute when substitute Helder Postiga rose to head home a cross for 3-2.

A grandstand finish was on the cards as Portugal went in search of the equaliser.

The ball bobbled around the German box but Portugal fell agonisingly short and Low celebrated in the stands as the final whistle went.

Germany move on to face Croatia or Turkey, as for Scolari, Chelsea await.
Portugal: Ricardo; Ferreira, Carvalho, Pepe, Bosingwa; Petit (Postiga 73), Deco, Moutinho (Meireles 31); Cristiano Ronaldo, Simao, Nuno Gomes (Nani 66)

Germany: Lehmann; Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm; Rolfes, Ballack, Hitzlsperger (Borowski 72), Schweinsteiger (Fritz 82); Podolski, Klose (Jansen 88)

Ref: Frojdfeldt (Swe)

Ref From channel4.com

Spain equalled their national record with a ninth straight victory, ensuring holders Greece go out without a single point.

The Iberians made a total of 10 changes from the team that beat Sweden, resting the likes of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Iker Casillas on top of the injuries to Carles Puyol and Xavi. Greece’s changes were more restricted as they bid to go out of the tournament with some pride intact despite their early exit.

The game started at an even balance, although the Greeks were clearly the more determined of the two sides. Neither team could find an opening, but Ruben De La Red and Traianos Dellas both failed to make the most of their half-chances resulting from set-pieces.

Free-kicks and corners continued to provide the closest thing to a scoring opportunity as both teams made some clumsy fouls. It took over 20 minutes for the goalkeepers to really be troubled, though.

Xabi Alonso spotted veteran Greek captain Antonis Nikopolidis, who had announced that he will retire from international football following this game, off his line and came close with an ambitious attempt at a lob from just inside his own half.

Seven minutes later it was again Alonso that threatened as he pushed forward from his holding midfield position, as his low shot from the edge of the penalty area bouncing just wide of the far post. The Liverpool star then went close a third time with an almost identical effort after Cesc Fabregas had laid off a free-kick into his path.

Sergio Garcia had a penalty claim waved away by referee Howard Webb, but it was Greece that opened the scoring five minutes before half-time. Giorgos Karagounis floated a set-piece into the box and Angelos Charisteas found himself with a free header. He made no mistake from his central position, scoring the Pirate Ship’s first goal of the tournament.

That strike saw the Greeks go in at the break a goal up despite Spain’s domination of possession, although in truth it was a scrappy half and La Furia Roja’s second string were punished for giving away so many free-kicks in dangerous positions.

After an uneventful first 10 minutes of the second half, Alonso showed once again how dangerous he can be from long range. The 26-year-old lined up the ball from 30 metres and his powerful strike thundered back off the top of the left-hand post with Nikopolidis well beaten.

Spain Coach Luis Aragones showed his cautious approach to this match after 58 minutes, when he took off the only player remaining from their first-team. Andres Iniesta was substituted for Santi Cazorla, meaning there were no players remaining on pitch from their usual starting XI.

La Furia Roja were soon level though. A high ball towards the penalty area was knocked back into the path of De La Red by Daniel Guiza, and the Getafe midfielder drilled it low towards goal. Nikopolidis did well to get a hand to the ball, but could do nothing to stop the powerful rocket from finding the back of the net.

Greece almost responded immediately through Charisteas, but the striker could only hit the side netting from a tight angle after rounding goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

However, it was La Seleccion who continued to dominate proceedings and Guiza, De La Red and Sergio Garcia all wasted good chances to give Spain the lead. Giannis Amanatidis ghosted towards the back post unmarked, but couldn’t bring the cross-field pass under control and lofted his half-volley well over the bar in acres of space in the Spanish penalty area.

The Reds struck again with two minutes remaining to spare the blushes of the players who had failed to take their chances. Guiza shrugged off his marker as Sergio Garcia sent a high cross into the penalty area and was left with a simple header from close range to ensure Spain will go into the quarter-finals with their 100 per cent record intact. Greece on the other hand, were left shaking their heads as their title defence ended at the first hurdle without earning a single point from Group D.
Greece: Nikopolidis; Vintra, Kyrgiakos (Antzas 63), Dellas, Spiropoulos; Basinas, Katsouranis; Salpingidis (Giannakopoulos 86), Karagounis (Tzolis 73), Amanatidis; Charisteas

Spain: Reina; Arbeloa, Albiol, Juanito, Fernando Navarro; de la Red, Xabi Alonso; Sergio Garcia, Fabregas, Iniesta (Santi Cazorla 58); Guiza

Ref: Webb (Eng)

Ref From channel4.com