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Missed opportunities
Despondent Dutch feel they outplayed Brazil
Posted: Tuesday July 07, 1998 08:23 PM
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Cocu was the first Dutch player to miss a penalty kick against Taffarel (AP) |
MARSEILLE (Reuters) -- The Netherlands
went out of the World Cup on Tuesday ruing missed chances and feeling they
were more than Brazil's equals.
Brazil reached the World Cup final 4-2 on penalties after the match ended
1-1 after extra time.
"It's a pity we didn't have the luck we had in our other games as we
really could have beaten this Brazilian side. I believe they were afraid of
us," said Phillip Cocu, the first Dutchman to miss from the spot.
Captain Frank de Boer echoed Cocu's sentiments.
"We had chances to finish Brazil. They seem to just rely on one man,
Ronaldo. That's not our style of play and we dominated the game," he said.
The Dutch had plenty of chances in the first half and were continually
pressing for the last 10 minutes of normal time. Patrick Kluivert scored
their equaliser in the 87th minute, but only after missing a clearer chance
seven minutes before.
The Dutch also believe they had a valid penalty award dismissed two
minutes from the end of extra time when Pierre van Hooijdonk went down
after some shirt tugging.
"The better team will be playing on Saturday," Van Hooijdonk said.
Saturday's third/fourth playoff was not a game any of the squad wanted to
think about. France and Croatia play in
the other semifinal on Wednesday.
De Boer (7): "Now I don't feel like playing the match, but that will come in time, I guess." (AP) | |
"Now I don't feel like playing the match, but that will come in time, I
guess," said Ronald de Boer.
De Boer missed the Netherlands' fourth penalty, ending their World Cup
challenge.
"I should have waited just a moment longer and seen that the keeper was
going one way," he said.
The Netherlands have perhaps proved that, like Italy and England, they
are not natural winners from penalty shootouts. They went out in the same
way against France in Euro '96.
Their were few tears, except a few on the face of Dutch keeper Edwin van
der Sar, but there were many dejected faces.
"We'll be having a bad night. That's for sure," said Ronald de Boer.
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said his side made an excellent impression in a
very close game.
"It's a crying shame that then you have to lose like this. Now we'll have
to retire for a bit to lick our wounds, then we'll gear up for the battle
for the third place."
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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