Deflated Dutch lick their wounds

Ruud van Nistelrooy described himself as “sick, broken and miserable” after Holland’s surrendered a two-goal lead to allow the dynamic Czechs roar into the quarter-finals in the most exciting game of Euro 2004 to date.

But those emotions could soon be applied to Dutch coach Dick Advocaat if Holland fail to reach the same stage after next Wednesday’s conclusion to Group D.

The Dutch must beat Latvia at Braga and pray the Czechs do not take their foot off the gas against Germany in Lisbon.

Everyone from Johan Cruyff to the 25,000 orange hordes found Advocaat’s shock substitution on the hour – when they led 2-1 – bemusing.

Off came golden boy Arjen Robben, the 20-year-old who Chelsea have paid PSV £13million for, and on came Manchester City’s workmanlike Paul Bosvelt.

There were roars of disapproval and Robben walked slowly off, theatrically waving to the fans, punching the air and slapping his legs in anger.

What Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, famed for his dislike of player dissent, will make of that reaction only time will tell.

But it could have a disastrous effect on Advocaat’s job.

Robben has not been slow to undermine Advocaat by telling everyone who cares to listen that he has recovered from a hamstring problem and wants to play.

Advocaat obviously sees things differently, as he explained: “He says he is fit but what I see in training is not good enough.

“Robben did not play for three months and we didn’t expect him to hold out much longer.

What I see in training tells me he is not 100 per cent match fit.

“I substituted Arjen Robben because I wanted more grip on the midfield. Pavel Nedved was getting too much space.

“Now everyone is talking about my substitution that didn’t work out – but no-one is talking about all the chances that we missed.

“The critics will put everything on the change for Robben, they can do that.

“It’s part of the job and it can work one way or the other.

“Today it worked against us because we lost, but if we had drawn I don’t think the criticism would have been that hard.”

Cruyff had said: “It’s a shame Robben had to leave the pitch.

“I didn’t know if he had some injury, but when I saw his face I don’t think so.

“He played like a train and the Czechs respected him.”

Robben tried to make amends for his display of annoyance on the pitch by saying afterwards: “We were 2-0 up and we should never give away this advantage at this level.

“It was a disappointment for me to be substituted because I felt good.

“But it is the choice and decision of the coach which you have to accept.

“Now we have to win against Latvia or we will be going home early.”

Holland’s general air of shock and despair was summed up by van Nistelrooy, who scored the second Dutch goal – which looked likely to take them clear of the Czechs and into the final stages of the tournament.

The Manchester United striker said: “I feel sick, and broken and miserable.

“At 2-0 down the Czechs made a substitution which changed things.

“They brought on a midfielder for a full-back and the game went out of our control.

“We were under more pressure from then on and we were not able to attack as we would have liked.

“But we should not have let a lead like that slip like that.”