Quarterfinal - Holland 0-0 Sweden
June 26, 2004
Quarterfinals 2:45 PM Sweden 0-0 Netherlands
Holland won on penalties today and they deserved to. Although Holland was the better team their lack of organization nearly cost them dear. Sweden looked dangerous on several occasions via Larsson, Ibrahimovic and Ljungberg but the Dutch controlled the pace of the match. Slow Dutch buildups from the back were routed to Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf who did well getting the ball out to the wings and finding the ever=present Robben.
Van Nistelrooy had a handful of opportunities but they were all thrilling. Although it wasn't van Nistelrooy's best match he used his body as a battering ram to create space in the middle. Mellberg, the Swedish captain, marshalled the defense but by the late second half the match really opened up. Both sides attacked with vigor but into the last few minutes the match calmed down and drifted into extra time. Although there were opportunities at either end, Sweden had the best chances of the extra time and should've earned a late winner.
Penalties loomed, and the whistle blew. Both managers worked out there penalty takers. Ibrahimovic (Sweden) was the first to miss, later Cocu (Holland) missed and hit the post, Ljungberg (Sweden) was incredibly lucky. His penalty hit the crossbar, bounced onto the goal line hitting Dutch keeper van der Sar, and went in. In went into sudden death kicks and Swedish captain Olaf Mellberg reluctantly walked to the spot. He hit his penalty firmly but van der Sar read it and saved it. 20 year old Robben (Holland) had the chance to win it for Holland. He stepped up and scored! Holland wins 5-4 on penalties.
Olaf Mellberg and Ruud van Nistelrooy tangle
Quarterfinals 2:45 PM Sweden 0-0 Netherlands
Holland won on penalties today and they deserved to. Although Holland was the better team their lack of organization nearly cost them dear. Sweden looked dangerous on several occasions via Larsson, Ibrahimovic and Ljungberg but the Dutch controlled the pace of the match. Slow Dutch buildups from the back were routed to Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf who did well getting the ball out to the wings and finding the ever=present Robben.
Van Nistelrooy had a handful of opportunities but they were all thrilling. Although it wasn't van Nistelrooy's best match he used his body as a battering ram to create space in the middle. Mellberg, the Swedish captain, marshalled the defense but by the late second half the match really opened up. Both sides attacked with vigor but into the last few minutes the match calmed down and drifted into extra time. Although there were opportunities at either end, Sweden had the best chances of the extra time and should've earned a late winner.
Penalties loomed, and the whistle blew. Both managers worked out there penalty takers. Ibrahimovic (Sweden) was the first to miss, later Cocu (Holland) missed and hit the post, Ljungberg (Sweden) was incredibly lucky. His penalty hit the crossbar, bounced onto the goal line hitting Dutch keeper van der Sar, and went in. In went into sudden death kicks and Swedish captain Olaf Mellberg reluctantly walked to the spot. He hit his penalty firmly but van der Sar read it and saved it. 20 year old Robben (Holland) had the chance to win it for Holland. He stepped up and scored! Holland wins 5-4 on penalties.
Olaf Mellberg and Ruud van Nistelrooy tangle
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