Picture this:
A much loved national sports team, which hasn’t won a major tournament since the late 80s goes into the latest event as one of the favourites. The team, including many of the superstars of the game, easily win all of their pool matches before being bundled out in the quarter finals to a less fancied opponent. Their army of supporters, all dressed in the same colour, and all convinced that they are the greatest team in the world, struggles to come to terms with the result.
Russia 3, Netherlands 1 (after extra-time).
I was in Amsterdam when the Netherlands lost to Portugal in the semi-finals of Euro 2004, so I can imagine what the atmosphere must be like there at the moment, after the loss to Russia this morning (NZ time).
Many of you can probably relate too, I suppose.
I’ve always maintained that the All Blacks are the rugby equivalent of Brazil, but given this result perhaps the Netherlands are a closer match?
