UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal
Dutch fourth time lucky
AFP, Faro
Captain Frank De Boer's delight in seeing the Netherlands finally overcome their penalty jitters to clinch a semi-final date with Portugal was tempered by the harsh realisation that his role in Euro 2004 may have come to an untimely end. De Boer limped off in the 36th minute of the Dutch's gripping quarter-final against Sweden on Saturday, which the 1988 champions won 5-4 on penalties, following a challenge on Freddie Ljungberg. "I stubbed my foot in the grass. I'll be going to the hospital for check-ups but it doesn't look good as it seems to be getting worse. "I'm doubtful for the semi-final. It's a big blow as I'd finally got myself back in the team and was playing with a lot of confidence. "It's hard thinking I might miss the semi-final and final after coming this far." Penalties have been a four-letter word in the Dutch camp as they lost on spot kicks in the last three European championships and in the 1998 World Cup. De Boer himself missed two spot kicks in the Euro 2000 semi-final defeat against Italy, one in normal time and one in the shoot-out. Despite his past failures from the spot the ex-Rangers defender said if he'd stayed on the pitch he might well have stepped up to take one against Swedish keeper Andreas Isaksson. "If I'd been fit maybe I'd have taken the place of (Philip) Cocu, who missed one in the '98 World Cup against Brazil. "It's the captain's duty to take them. "We didn't practise them but we all had a good feeling about it." For his fellow defender Jaap Stam the heartbreak against Italy four years was very much in their thoughts at the Faro-Loule stadium. "That's why it was so important to win on penalties this time," he said. "Everybody was thinking about Italy out there." Ruud Van Nistelrooy stepped up to score their first and the Manchester United striker spoke about how different it was taking one in a shoot-out compared to in normal time. "It's not the same at all. In the shoot-out you have a long way to walk to the circle whereas during a match you're normally very close. "In the shoot-out you're just focussed on the penalties. There was pressure on me taking the first one as Sweden had already got their first. We're not known for our spot kicks and I'm glad this group has turned our luck around." Van Nistelrooy, alluding to England captain David Beckham who blamed moving grass for his miss against Portugal on Thursdayy, added: "Becks' grass moved when he took his but we checked out this stadium yesterday and there was no similar problem with the surface." Semifinals
June 30
Portugal v Netherlands (Lisbon) July 01
Greece v winner of Czech Rep. v Denmark (Oporto)
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