Half Time: Russia did an impressive-amazing-spectacular first half!! The oranje are defending....they scored 9 goals so far...and they are defending against Russia!!! Guus Hidding is really good, I'm amazed by the Russia players: they play fast, have some nice plays, and almost scored 3 times...but Van deer Saar is...van der Saar.

Before Kick Off:

line-up

Russia:

Akinfeev - Anyukov, Ignashevish, Kolodin, Zhirkov - Semak - Zyryanov, Semshov, Saenko - Arsahvin, Pavlyuchenko

Before Kick Off:

line-up:

Netherlands:

van der Sar - Boulahrouz, Ooijer, Mayhijsen, van Bronckhorst - de Jong, Engelaar - Kuyt, van der Vaart, Sneijder - van Nistelrooy

Before Kick Off: the last time - and the only time - Netherlands won a competition was 20 years ago (Netherlands and Spain are underachievers). But the teammates of Van der Saar are playing a wonderful football, a football that disappeared 30 years ago with Johan Cruijff - TOTAL FOOTBALL!!!

Before Kick Off: Guus Hidding is the coach of Russia.....I mean the Dutch coach of Russia!!!!

Before Kick Off: 20 years later, Russia are playing their first final stage of an international competition since....the fall of communism

Before Kick Off: Netherlands won their first European Championship, Van Basten was the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals.

Before Kick Off: Gullit scored for the Oranje in the 34th minute. 20 minutes later, Van Basten scored the second goal of the game.

Before Kick Off:

EURO 1988, final match.

Netherlands against Russia....Van Basten was a player back then 

Before Kick Off:

first. let's go back in time......

End Of Match: well, that was a rip off.....

Penalties: what a horrible game and a horrible ref

120' (+3): goal for Turkey

120' (+2): omg..........

120': what a goal from Croatia!!!!

106':

What can I say about this game?....oh, I know: it's

B           O                    R              I                   N              G 

91': c'mon..can it be more boring?

Extra Time: extra time

90': nice save by Rustu

89': free-kick for Croatia

88': injury time now....

84': before the extra-time.....

84': 5 more minutes....

78': sorry, I'm not blogging anymore..too boring...and I'm eating lunch :)

62': what a boring game...I think I said that earlier...I'm so bored

54': nice save by Rustu

51': Turkey are struggling, but the score is still the same...

51': wow....that was close

50': nice defense by the Turks...corner for Croatia

49': what was that....

47': back to the boring game

40': it's like both teams are at a practice session...

40': boring.....

37': oh...I just found out that the ref is Italian...it explains everything.....

36':

and the ref doesn't even call the penalty for Turkey...go back to ref's school

25': yellow card for Sanli....another bad call from the ref!!!!

24': and Croatia is attacking again

24': good save by Rustu

22': nice kick from Kranjcar in the head of Asik

20': Croatia is accelerating...and Turkey is far, far, far behind

13': omg....the crossbar...what a nice play from Croatia!!!!

11': omg....that was a perfect defense from Kovac, but the ref gave a free-kick to Turkey - another mistake from a ref in the EURO

9': Sanli shoots...easy for Pletikosa

4': nice play on the side by the Turks...but the shot goes wide

2': Turkey just gave away the ball to Croatia....

1': if only Edouardo was playing....

Before Kick Off: all right, this is it for Bilic...come on Croatia

I love Croatia.  I remember when Bilic was playing for the national team at the Euro 96, and also in the 98 WC. And now, he is trying to make it as a coach, and I think he is doing an amazing job. 

First of all, Croatia has realized the perfect run so far: 3 games, 3 wins - specially the 2-1 win against the Mannschaft!!!  And they are playing without Edouardo da Silva, their big star, who broke his leg 3 months ago! So maybe they don't score a lot of goals (1-0, 2-1 and 1-0), but the defense is really strong and compact. 

On the other hand, Turkey came back twice in the group stage - against Switzerland and against Czech Republic (they were 2 goals down with only 15 minutes to play). Turkey's key player, Nihat, is amazing, but he will be alone today, on the pitch. Turkey has to deal with 2 suspended players and 4 injured. Rustu - the "new" Dino Zoff (only 'cause of his age....) is even coming back for the game. In spite of those problems, Terim is still confident and wants to "finish everything in 90 minutes or before that". 

Both teams deserve to play the quarter-final, but Croatia has a big advantage - at least on paper! Again, it would be more interested to see a Croatia-Germany than a Turkey-Germany....