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Oranje crush Yugoslavia Kluivert scores four in win; France edges Spain 2-1
Posted: Sunday June 25, 2000 11:14 PM
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Patrick Kluivert scored the European championship's first quadruple Sunday, leading the Netherlands past Yugoslavia with a record 6-1 score and into the Euro 2000 semifinals. Silencing a nation of critics unimpressed with their play in the opening round of Euro 2000, the Dutch produced brilliantly inspired play and a half dozen goals that brought back memories of the great Dutch team of the 1970s. "We were the masters of this game from start to finish," said Kluivert. "I don't know if we can play any better. "We won't stop until the finals, until we win the tournament." The Barcelona striker became top scorer with six goals, surpassing Yugoslav Savo Milosevic with five overall.
"I still can't believe I scored four goals," he said. "It wasn't as easy as the score might suggest." The Netherlands will play Italy on Thursday in Amsterdam, with a place in the final at stake. The Oranje festival started in the 24th minute when Kluivert rushed clear into the penalty area, where a looping pass from Dennis Bergkamp found him unmarked. Stretching, Kluivert won control over the ball and tipped it past an onrushing Ivica Kralj. Kluivert doubled the Dutch advantage seven minutes from half-time, when midfielder Edgar Davids curled the ball perfectly over the Yugoslavian defense and Kluivert first-timed it past Kralj's left side. Kluivert continued his amazing goal chase in the 51st minute. Defender Paul Bosvelt feigned veteran Dragan Stojkovic and saw Kluivert reaking free into the goalmouth. Kluivert, who picked up Bosvelt's low pass, put the game out of reach with the hat-trick goal. Yet he wanted more. Kluivert acknowledged after the game that he had not actually knocked the third goal into the net. "Honestly, I have to say the defender touched it before me so really I only scored three goals tonight," he said. The goal came when Kluivert and Yugoslav Dejan Govedarica both went for a cross at the near post. The ball was deflected into the net. UEFA said it would to make a ruling on the goal later on Sunday after reviewing the referee's report. Two minutes after the third goal, Boudewijn Zenden broke free on the left and, with the Yugoslav defense scattered all over the place, spotted Kluivert slightly withdrawing to create space for himself. A smart pass back and it was yet another tap-in for Kluivert. Kluivert was elbowed by Sinisa Mihaljovic shortly after in a duel for the ball in the air, and Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard pulled the star off on the hour-mark. "With a score like that, you have to be able to let others play, too," said Kluivert. "I don't care if I'm top scorer, as long as I get to the final." Milosevic barely prevented the shutout with a consolation goal in injury time. In the second half, the confident Dutch could sit back, wait for the pressing Yugoslavs and counter at will. Overmars took over the scoring from Kluivert in the 78th, taking a pass from Arsenal teammate Dennis Bergkamp, and volleying it past Kralj from the edge of the penalty area. In the 90th minute, Phillip Cocu hit the post and Overmars smashed in the rebound. By then, the match had already turned into one huge party at the 50,000-capacity De Kuip, which was transformed into a heaving mass of singing and dancing. From the start, the Yugoslavs left wide swaths of space for the Dutch, who eagerly used it to develop their attacking game. In comparison, the Dutch started challenging the Yugoslavs from within their own half. The Yugoslavs paid dearly. Early action though was Yugoslav With a deft move, Savo Milosevic left Frank de Boer standing, and served the unmarked Predrag Mijatovic, who should hae scored from a dozen meters in the first quarter. "We had the first good opportunity, but we didn't score," Yugoslav coach Vujadin Boskov lamented. A minute later, the Dutch answered back with Bergkamp fooling Nisa Saveljic and forcing a great save from goalie Kralj. In the 19th minute, Bergkamp unleashed his powers again, sweeping past two defenders but his shot was well saved. A minute later, he put Davids through the center, but the stocky midfielder shot over. Just after Kluivert's goal, Boudewijn Zenden again had an open shot on goal but Kralj was quickly becoming the best Yugoslav player. Even defender Arthur Numan got into the act, pushing past two Yugoslavs on the left before his low shot was well saved. In the 31st minute, the Yugoslavs replied and a 30-meter freekick from Sinisa Mihaljovic had Van der Sar scurrying to the low corner to cover. After half-time, the Dutch immediately started using the space the Yugoslavs left in their quest for a goal and Overmars should have done more when served by Davids in the 47th minute. From 10 meters however he heaved it over the goalposts. Then came release with a trio of goals. Van der Sar was back after missing the game against France with a thigh injury and was again replaced by Liverpool's Sander Westerveld in the 65th minute. "They were playing and we were just watching," said the devastated Kralj. "It was a catastrophe. "I had a feeling they could score whenever they wanted." The Yugoslav picture was already bleak coming into the game. Defender Slavisa Jokanovic was suspended after being sent off against Spain. Mateja Kezman was still suspended after receiving a red card in the second game, against Norway. It marked the second time in two years that the Dutch have thwarted the Yugoslavs at a major international tournament. After missing the 1992 and 1996 European Championships -- banned in accordance with United Nations sanctions for its involvement in the Bosnian war -- Yugoslavia had seen its international comeback at the 1998 World Cup cut short, knocked out by the Dutch in the second round. Yugoslavia's coach said after the game that luck had contributed to the Dutch win. "The Dutch played excellently but they had some luck," Boskov told a news conference. "We had the first goal chance but unfortunately we didn't score it. What can I do? I have to pay them my compliments and congratulate them. "Playing them on their own pitch in front of their own fans was not easy. They were better than us but I also think they were lucky." "I think we succeeded at this European Championship," he said. "Technically and tactically we are the eighth best team in Europe." Lineups: Yuguslavia : Ivica Kralj; Slobodan Komljenovic, Miroslav Djukic, Nisa Saveljic (56, Jovan Stankovic), Sinisa Mihaljovic; Vladimir Jugovic, Dejan Govedarica, Ljubinko Drulovic (70, Darko Kovacevic), Dragan Stojkovic (51, Dejan Stankovic); Predrag Mijatovic, Savo Milosevic. Netherlands : Edwin van der Sar (65, Sander Westerveld); Paul Bosvelt, Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer, Arthur Numan; Marc Overmars, Edgar Davids, Philip Cocu, Boudewijn Zenden (79, Ronald de Boer); Patrick Kluivert (60, Roy Makaay), Dennis Bergkamp.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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