After all the celebrations in Berne there were commiserations in Basel on Saturday night as the Netherlands – and their massive band of fans – reached the end of the road at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Defeat
Yet again more than 100,000 orange-clad supporters were present, crowding the streets of Basel before marching to the stadium behind their brightly coloured bus. At the front of the coach was the destination 'Wenen' – Vienna – but it was not to be after a 3-1 extra-time quarter-final defeat by Russia. However, the fans will live long in the Swiss memory; the local population had voted the Netherlands as the team they most wished to see triumph after the co-hosts' elimination.

Stunned
"Of course we are disappointed, we didn't expect to be eliminated," explained a stunned Rob from Venlo. Linda from Maastricht added: "I can't find the words to explain how I feel. For me it's just like asking a player to analyse the game immediately after the final whistle. I need to calm down first." Still ,with a mixture of defiance and disappointment, they celebrated a final 'Oranje-Party' in Basel before making their disheartened departure. Now, ironically, they have their fingers crossed for Guus Hiddink's Russia, in the hope that at least one Dutchman will become a European champion.