After years of frustration, Dutch savour shootout win
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-28 06:44

Dutch fans spilled into the streets chanting "Holland! Holland!" in celebration on Saturday after their team beat Sweden to reach the Euro 2004 semi-finals, where they will play hosts Portugal.

The packed centre of the Dutch capital was a sea of orange with exuberant fans dressed in the team's colours waving Dutch flags to cheer their 5-4 victory on penalties over the Swedes.

The teams had drawn 0-0 after playing 120 minutes before Arjen Robben, the 20-year-old winger, scored from the penalty spot to spark celebrations in bars decked out in orange balloons and streamers where fans had gathered to watch the match.

Many bars were so crowded they had to turn fans away.

"It's simply unbelievable. It was an exciting game and a real nail-biter to the very end," said Mannon Mulder, 32, an advertising executive. "Our team were just fantastic. They kept it together today and have made the whole country proud."

Unseasonably cool rain did not stop people cramming into the main squares in towns across the country to celebrate.

Cars driving along Amsterdam's central canals hooted in unison and Dutch supporters dancing in the streets in The Hague briefly stopped traffic in the centre of the city.

The mood was in sharp contrast to that a week earlier when angry fans burned the Dutch flag and smashed windows after their team gave up an early lead to lose 3-2 to the Czech Republic.

"It was amazing that the Dutch won on penalties," said Henk Dekker, an employee in a flower shop. "It is something that you just don't expect after so many losses (after a shootout) in the European Championship and World Cup," he said.

The Dutch, who face Portugal in Lisbon on Wednesday, had gone out of the European Championship on penalties in their last three appearances, as well as the World Cup in 1998.

Most fans in the streets on Saturday seemed to have forgiven coach Dick Advocaat, who was slammed for substituting Robben against the Czechs - a decision many said had taken momentum away from their team and was a factor in the defeat.

Not everyone was happy with Advocaat despite the win over the Swedes, although even his critics seemed prepared to give him some slack and just wanted to focus on the semi-final.

"Advocaat is a good coach but there is something missing in him to be a really good national coach," said Alex Santos, 38, a bouncer in an Amsterdam club.

"What's important now, though, is that the Dutch have made it through to the next round," he said.

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