Their emphatic 3-0 win over Latvia coupled with Germany's 2-1 defeat by a second-string Czech Republic side meant the Netherlands qualified for the knockout stages two points clear of their arch-rivals.

Group D was always going to end with at least one of its three former champions failing to qualify but was a canter for the Czechs who won all three matches, the only one of the 16 finalists to do that.

While the Czechs finished with nine points, the Dutch ended on four, Germany two and Latvia, outplayed but not discredited overall, one.

Now, if it is possible for them, the Dutch could even enjoy the next few days and much vilified coach Dick Advocaat can continue to be the butt of his countrymen's jokes for a while longer.

"Let's Go Home Dick" and "Dick Does Your Wife Still Understand You?" were two of the more polite messages on Dutch banners at Braga's spectacular rock-face stadium hewn out of an old quarry.

Advocaat probably needs a rock-hard mentality to see off the continual jibes from fans and the Dutch media over his selection policies and tactics.

But on Wednesday he got it all right and the Dutch can now prepare in relative peace and calm for their quarter-final against Sweden in Faro on Saturday.

The Dutch are world class at infighting and arguing, a trait that tends to get in the way of their footballing talents but when they do play well they have the ability to beat almost anyone.

It is not inconceivable that they can win this tournament, but while that is probably a step too far, a semi-final place is a realistic ambition for Advocaat's team of talented individuals.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has long been regarded as one of Europe's top strikers and his two goals against Latvia meant he pulled level at the top of the tournament scoring chart with England's Wayne Rooney on four goals.

Roy Makaay, who would probably be an automatic first choice in any other team, added another after coming on as a substitute, but the Dutch drive was fuelled by the turbo-charged contributions of Arjen Robben down one flank and Andy van der Meyde on the other.

With Edgar Davids's piston engine motoring away in midfield, the Dutch steam-rolled their way over Latvia, and could have won by a far bigger margin but for an outstanding performance by Latvian goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko.

The Netherlands have now reached the knockout stage for the fifth successive European Championship, in contrast to Germany who have been eliminated in the group stage at the last two.

There are many similarities between the Germans and the Dutch fuelling a fierce rivalry which on the football field, at least, dates back to West Germany's victory in the 1974 World Cup final.

But while the Dutch have pulled themselves together and reached the knockout stage after drawing 1-1 with the Germans and losing 3-2 to the Czechs, the Germans are on their way home.

These might be nervous, worrying times for Dutch football and their fans, but at least they are having a better time of it than the Germans.

If reaching the quarter-finals is one thing to make them happy, Germany's failure to do so should be another.

A happy Dutch camp might be something of a rarity, but surely even they will be delighted at reaching the last eight.