Netherlands enters quarterfinals with 3-0 win over Latvia

The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals of European soccer championship after they swept Latvia 3-0 at Braga Municipal Stadium Wednesday in Braga.

Besides the impressive 3-0 victory, the Netherlands must thank to their arch rival Czech Republic, who edged out Germany 2-1 in another group match to do the Dutch a favor.

Germany, needing a win to progress, then joined Spain and Italy as the latest big name team to crash out of the tournament.

Netherlands the luckiest in Euro 2004

Midfielder Philip Cocu praised the Czechs after knowing their qualification news.

"We have to thank the Czechs for beating the Germans," Cocu said. "We heard from the crowd reaction in the second half that there had been another (Czech) goal and that of course gives you an extra push to keep going."

Van Nisterlrooy completed a pretty nice play for the Netherlands with two goals from first half and was substitued on about 70 minutes by the Roy Makaay, who hit his first goal of the tournament to seal the 3-0 victory over Latvia.

The Manchester United striker opened the scoring on 25 minutes as he converted a penalty from a foul on his teammate Edgar Davids and just nine minutes later the Dutch prolific striker added his second goal to double their lead.

The Netherlands played a completely dominant first half and their first clear chance came from the 12th minute when Arjen Robben's vision and sublime pass released Van Nistelrooy, but Latvian goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko was quick to narrow the angle and saved the dangerous shot.

The Netherlands went ahead through a rather fortunate penalty midway as Davids squirmed his way past Mihails Zemlinskis and Astajevs and then tumbled in the box, which handed the Dutch a disputed penalty shot. And Van Nistelrooy calmly sent Kolinko the wrong way to make it 1-0.

Nine minutes later the Dutch striker scored his third goal of the tournament as he nodded home through a Phillip Cocu's headed cross.

Dutch coach Dick Advocaat praised team's first half performance. "If you give Latvia space they can come out and be dangerous," the Dutch said. "We were very disciplined in the first half."

The Latvian eleven came out strong at the second half and played a pretty good ten-minute game before the Dutch found their pace again and went on their dominance which was seen throughout the first half.

And goalkeeper Kolinko seemed to be the best player on the Latvian side as he continued to defy the Dutch with a string of great saves.

Van Nistelrooy said attention was already shifting to Saturday's quarter-final with Sweden in Faro.

"It's just a great feeling we've done it. We just want to focus on Sweden. It will be a very tough game. It's the quarters now and anything can happen," he added.