From start to end Sweden put up an amazing show and went out of the tournament without tasting a single defeat in their four encounters in Portugal. This talented Swedish side had everything: height, speed, power packed kicks, tight marking capacities and skill full players for mid field dominance. The moment they deployed extra men to patrol Dutch playmakers Davids and Seedorf, the supply line was effectively checked and Ruud van Nistelrooy could not do much damage up front. But Dick Advocaat has men for every occasion and his three substitutes did a fine job as players. Heithinga and Maakay even got their names on the scorer's list in the penalty shoot out. It was a wonderful team effort for the Dutch and men like Jaap Stam, Michael Reiziger, Bronchorst, Edwin, Cocu and Arjen stood tall in every test. Ruud van Nistelrooy and company exhibited much passion, commitment and fellow feeling and that in the end was the slight difference between these two equally talented sides in the current competition. We wish Hendrik Larsson and his supremely talented Swedes all the very best in competitions to come. In the meantime we get ready to watch yet another Luso-Dutch rivalry in Lisbon !
