Germans' Ruud awakening
Ruud Van Nistelrooy conjured up a stylish equalising goal to finally invest an uninspired contest with a welcome element of improvisation in the 81st minute. His typical strike finally elevated the mood of the game to the level of a championship tie and provoked a passionate drive for victory from both teams.
The heightened tension was welcome and the surprise was it took so long in coming. For the setting for a derby contest between these traditional rivals was stunning, the stadium beautiful. Through the wide gap between the roof and the fans behind the south goal were views of picture-postcard quality, of the motorway to Lisbon as it led its speeding traffic flow across a giant suspension bridge. The river Duoro wound its more elegant path beneath, into the heart of the city on its journey to the sea.
On a balmy summer's night it provided a magnificent sight, one that was further enhanced by the colourful Dutch army of supporters and it was truly an appropriate venue for a birthday party of such significance. It was just a pity the contest left something to be desired; the standard was unexceptional, and, for much of the game, Holland were a big disappointment.
Germany were, as always, tight, economical and united, their teamwork smooth and efficient. They looked to the relaxed Michael Ballack to invest their work with an element of style and to the lively Michael Kuranyi to provide a little menace at the business end of the park.
This he did to good effect, even if his tendency to go to ground too easily was irritating. But he was busy and persistent and he gave Jaap Stam and Wilfred Bouma an uncomfortable evening.
The Dutch were in somnambulant mood, effecting a too-relaxed style in the first half when the emphasis appeared to be almost exclusively on retaining possession. They seemed reluctant to commit men forward and Germany deserved their 30th minute lead.
This came in surprising fashion and reflected poorly on goalkeeper Van Der Sar. Frings free from the left-hand touchline and parallel to the edge of the penalty area, swerved over a mass of heaving bodies and past the goalkeeper's dive to bounce inside the far upright.
This was evidence of weaknesses in the Dutch defensive line that threatened to undermine their Championship at the first hurdle, at least for 45 minutes. Kuranyi regularly won possession and centre-back Worns came forward for set-pieces to threaten in the air three times in quick succession.
When Jaap Stam backed off Kuranyi and allowed the centre-forward take deliberate aim before forcing Van Der Sar to stretch to turn his shot from 28 yards over with some difficulty, one began to wonder about The Netherlands' commitment to the cause.
The Dutch were invigorated during their half-time break, their second half comeback full of bristling indignation and aggressive attacking play. They rung the changes early, sending on players of more attacking substance than Davids and Zenden and finally throwing caution to the wind by withdrawing a full-back in favour of Van Hooijdonk.
Germany held them with relative ease and their sense of security in face of Cocu's aerial barrage was reflected in manager Rudi Voller's decision to commit the precocious 17-year-old Schweinsteiger to the contest with a little more than twenty minutes left.
Schweinsteiger is being spoken of as the next superstar on the German scene and he showed a confident desire to engage Dutch defenders in man-to-man combat that suggested he believes it too.
But his inexperience was also evident even if he went close when he drove one into the side-netting and set up a chance for Kuranyi that cost the centre-forward a swollen jaw as his attempt to reach the ball brought him into the path of Stam's boot.
These incursions into the Dutch penalty area were relatively rare in the final half-hour as the momentum of The Netherlands' struggle grew in intensity. They finally gave their admirable fans cause to celebrate when Van Der Meyde fought hard to reach a ball running wide and cut it back for Van Nistelrooy.
He had to drive hard past the covering Christian Worns to get to the ball first, but he did so brilliantly to flick it with his instep at the near post across the body of Kahn and inside the far upright. It was no more than The Netherlands deserved.
(4-4-1-1): Kahn; Friedrich, Worns, Nowotny, Lahm; Schneider (Schweinsteiger 67), Hamann, Baumann, Frings (Ernst 79); Ballack, Kuranyi (Bobic 85).
(4-4-1-1): Van Der Sar; Heitinga (Van Hooijdonk 74), Stam, Bouma, Van Bronckhorst; Van Der Meyde, Cocu, Davids (Sneijder 46), Zenden (Overmars 46); Van Der Vaart; Van Nistelrooy,.
: A. Frisk (Sweden).
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