SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Dutch fans jubilant after Netherlands reach World Cup last eight

Record ID: 454495

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Dutch fans jubilant after Netherlands reach World Cup last eight
  • Date: 24th June 2010
  • Summary: (NIGHT SHOTS) DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 28, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DUTCH FANS CELEBRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH FAN, VIDA, SAYING: "I'm very relieved actually, but I think we played a very good game compared to the other team. We had control of the game and I think we played better. We had more chances and we definitely deserved to win." DUTCH FANS WALKING AWAY FROM STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch) DUTCH FAN, MARCEL, SAYING: "I think it was a very good game, Holland had five or six chances and we scored two goals. I don't think we were ever really in trouble. I don't think Holland is playing to it's full potential, but that's because they don't have to, the opponents are not yet strong enough, but it will be different in the next game." DUTCH FANS CELEBRATING (SOUNDBITE) (Slovakian) SLOVAKIAN FAN, JOSEF, SAYING: "I want to say thank you to our players for a very good game, very good football and we're having a great time in Africa." SLOVAKIAN FANS WALKING AWAY (SOUNDBITE) (Slovakian) SLOVAKIAN FAN, CSABA, SAYING: "We're proud definitely, very proud. We were close as well, we should have scored the first goal then it would have been 1-1 and we had many chances, almost there...almost, but not quite." DUTCH FANS DANCING DUTCH FANS CELEBRATE, ONE OF THEM KISSES THE CAMERA MORE DUTCH FANS DANCING FEMALE DUTCH FAN WRAPPED IN DUTCH FLAG SPINS AROUND AND WALKS AWAY
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA3YNVH6UDZFMS7LRG0YP2ZDB29
  • Story Text: Dutch fans were celebrating on Monday (June 28), after an impressive performance from the returning Arjen Robben helped Netherlands to a comfortable 2-1 win over Slovakia to put them into the World Cup quarter-finals.
    After the final whistle blew thousands of fans wearing orange and draped in Dutch flags streamed from the stadium to carry on the party. Many of the fans believed that the result was never really in doubt.
    "I'm very relieved actually, but I think we played a very good game compared to the other team." said Vida, "We had control of the game and I think we played better. We had more chances and we definitely deserved to win."
    Another Dutch fan Marcel, said that his team would play much better in the next round.
    "I don't think we were ever really in trouble. I don't think Holland is playing to it's full potential, but that's because they don't have to, the opponents are not yet strong enough, but it will be different in the next game."
    There were far fewer Slovakian fans at the match to see their nation beaten, but despite the disappointment of losing they were proud of their players, having beaten current world champions Italy in the first round.
    "I want to say thank you to our players for a very good game, very good football" said Josef.
    "We're proud definitely, very proud. We were close as well, we should have scored the first goal then it would have been 1-1 and we had many chances, almost there...almost, but not quite." said a disappointed Csaba.
    Winger Robben, making his first start in South Africa after suffering a hamstring injury, rifled home a solo effort after 18 minutes to give the Dutch the lead, before Wesley Sneijder wrapped it up six minutes from the end.
    Slovakia, who last week sent holders Italy packing with a 3-2 upset, got a consolation with the last kick of the game when Robert Vittek netted from the penalty spot.
    Slovakia's coach Vladimir Weiss said Robben, who missed the Netherlands' first two matches of the campaign because of his injury, had made the difference.
    In his 71 minutes on the pitch, the winger was at the heart of all of the most threatening moves from a Dutch team who had otherwise looked as devoid of flair as they had when grinding out three wins in their group matches.
    He scored the first when Sneijder's superb long ball out of defence gave him room to run at the Slovaks, and he sprinted towards goal before cutting inside two defenders outside the penalty area and drilling a left-footed shot into the corner of Jan Mucha's net.
    Robben nearly scored a second goal from a similar position at the start of the second half but this time Mucha got a hand to the ball to send it around the post.
    Slovakia did create some good opportunities, but when clear chances fell to Miroslav Stoch and Vittek in the 67th minute, Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg provde equal to them.
    The game was as good as over in the 84th minute when, after a quick free, Dirk Kuyt beat Mucha to the ball and he squared to Sneijder to sidefoot into an empty net.
    There was still time for a consolation goal for Slovakia when in the third-minute of injury time, Stekelenburg brought down Martin Jakubko and Vittek coolly converted the penalty.
    The victory at the Moses Mabhida Stadium sends the Dutch into a last eight meeting with the winners of Monday's other second round match between Brazil and Chile on Friday (July 2).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
Register