The Dutch weekend press was deflated on Saturday night in announcing the national team's crash from Euro 2008 after the 3-1 quarter-final loss to Russia.
“Orange dream shattered in Basel,” read the online headline of the Algemeen Dagblad daily.
“Russia on Saturday shattered the European dream of Orange,” it said. “The team of [coach] Guus Hiddink won 3-1 after extra-time in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2008.”
“Russia rolls up Orange,” announced the Telegraaf newspaper. “After three beautiful duels in the group phase, Russia proved too strong in the quarter final.”
It said there were several early near misses by Russia.
“Only in the 19th minute did the Netherlands start looking dangerous,” said the paper on its Web site.
Dutch broadcaster NOS announced undramatically online: “Orange loses to Russia.”
The broadcaster said the Dutch team was not as imposing as in its defeats of world champions Italy (3-0) and of 2006 World Cup finalists France (4-1) on the road to the quarter-final.
“Against a fit Russia, Orange looked nervous and anxious and played in a much too slow tempo,” it concluded. “The second half belonged to the Russians and after 10 minutes they took a deserving lead.”
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