In the first match of the European Championship, the Netherlands beat Poland 2-1. Is there a feeling that the Dutch team is a little closer to Russian fans than other major teams in the tournament? Still, the 2008 victory is too significant for our football history.
Everything has been said about the legendary quarterfinals. But what do the Dutch themselves remember about Russia? Today in Hamburg we spoke to them and offered them to play in the association. I told them names that were important to us (and maybe to them too) and asked them to share their memories of these people.
Guus Hiddink
Dirk: The best! I remember his South Korea in 2002. The ideal leader of the Netherlands.
Frank: World Cup with Holland in 1998 and with South Korea in 2002. And, of course, the Euro 2008, when it crushed our hopes.
Jan: Great coach.
Oliver and Martin: Very good, but he coached Russia, with whom he beat us. We loved him, but my friend and I were in that quarterfinal. And we cry. These are not the best memories. Gus knew our team’s problems very well and solved them exactly, which is why Russia won then.
Nicholas: Unique and cool!
Wilhelm: Hus is a very lucky guy, but also a great coach. Although I will always hate him a little because of 2008. Then I considered him a traitor.
Allaert: Hiddink is the best Dutch coach of the 21st century.
Guus Hiddink after the Russia – Netherlands match at Euro 2008
Photo: Patrik Stollarz/Getty Images
Andrei Arshavin
Dirk: Who? Oh, I remembered! This is the tenth number of the Russian national team in 2008. Then he kicked our asses! Arshavin was very good.
Franco: 2008. Let’s not talk about that, haha.
Ian: Before that European Championship, I didn’t even know who Arshavin was. But after the match against Russia, everyone in Holland remembered this surname. Nightmare!
Oliver and Martin: Arshavin is a great talent. Of course, we all remember how he destroyed us in 2008. Then he moved to Arsenal and no one heard from him again. He just disappeared, but he was fine.
Nicholas: I don’t remember. Kidding! But I don’t want to talk about it, it was too painful.
Wilhelm: I met Arshavin before the Euro. He played very well for Zenit in the UEFA Cup. When he beat us against Russia, I thought: “Why the hell is he still at Zenit?”
Allart: 2008. I didn’t hear from him after that.
Andrey Arshavin after the goal against the Dutch team
Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
dick lawyer
Dirk: Sir, I love money.
Frank: Great coach. He worked for us, I remember him from his work in Russia. Many people in Holland think that he only works for money, but he is a good coach. We also laugh all the time at how he constantly finishes his race and then comes back.
Jan: 2004, coached Holland in the European Championship. In the match against the Czech Republic he replaced Robben, which caused a disaster. Don’t love him.
Oliver and Martin: very mediocre coach.
Nicholas: I love Dick. Not everyone favors him in Holland, but I followed his success at Zenit. He also coaches Curaçao, and my wife is from there.
Wilhelm: Lawyer failed at Euro 2004 as a coach. I will always dislike him for this.
Allart: I know you work for Curaçao and you also love money.
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Quincy Promes
Dirk: Headless.
Frank: No comments.
Ian: Prison!
Olivet and Martin: Promises! We are Ajax, so it’s easy here: he is a great player. But his brain works somehow differently than normal people. Fuck him!
Nicolás: I’m from PSV and Promes is from Ajax, so I don’t like him. He’s done a lot of bad things, Quincy is almost in jail. In Holland they don’t even remember about it; his popularity has passed.
Wilhelm: A criminal, there are no good words for him.
Allart: “Spartacus”! And prison.
Quincy Promes
Photo: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Cousin. Igor Akinfeev
Oliver and Martin: Oh, he’s the best goalkeeper Russia has ever had, huh? He is also a FIFA legend. Great player! He is a memory for everyone. In 20 or 30 years everyone will remember Akinfeev.
How Holland achieved victory against Poland:
The Netherlands fell in love with themselves at the Euro Cup halfway through! But everything was decided with Poland only in the end.
