Euro2008 Preview: Quarter-final ~ Holland v Russia

Holland have won four of the previous eight confrontations. Russia have won twice and two matches ended in a tie. All three competitive encounters have been in European Championship finals. In 1988, the Soviet Union beat Holland 1-0 in their opening group match before losing the final 2-0. In 1992, when Russia took part as the CIS, this match ended in a 0-0 draw in the group stage. Current Dutch coach Marco van Basten played in all three of those matches. His only goal was a memorable strike in the final of 1988 to put Holland 2-0 up

By Citizen Correspondent Sir Stephen

Date Posted: 06/20/08

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UEFA EURO 2008 QUARTER-FINAL
Date: Saturday 21st June
Kick-off: 1945 BST
Venue: St Jakob-Park, Basel

Holland coach Marco van Basten is set to revert back to his favoured starting XI after resting a host of players last time out against Romania. That could mean only Khalid Boulahrouz - who will play despite the death of his prematurely-born baby daughter - and Arjen Robben keep their places. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andre Ooijer and Dirk Kuyt will all return to the side.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink will name an unchanged line-up to the one that beat Sweden 2-0 in their final group game. That victory was inspired by Andrei Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker who had been suspended for the first two group games - a 4-1 defeat to Spain and a narrow 1-0 win over Greece. "I don't think we needed to score that many goals in the Swedish game," said Arshavin. "We needed to save them for the next games and I hope we will score a few against the Dutch. "If we didn't have to play the Dutch, we would feel much better, because I think they are the best side here. But fate has it that we have to play the strongest team in the tournament in the last eight. I hope we will be able to match them."

Russia's performance in the win over Sweden prompted many observers to predict a possible upset against the Dutch, despite Holland's' 100% record in the tournament so far.
The match has a further twist, in that Russia coach Hiddink is a Dutchman, and led Holland to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1998. And Hiddink, who will reportedly earn a £400,000 bonus for leading Russia into the last eight, will hope to avenge Russia's defeat to the Dutch in the final of Euro '88.