Dirtier than an Aguilera Video

Portugal 1 - Holland 0

Figo flopped, Ruud was nowhere to be found, and the Dutch blew a game they couldn't afford. But the real question is, how can a referee blow a game that bad?

Where do you start with a game like today's blood-soaked Holland-Portugal match-up? For a while there, I thought that I was watching the Stanley Cup finals and not a World Cup knockout match.

This was game was DIRTY. There is no other way to say it. From the earliest moments of the match into its penalty-full second half and through the violent six minutes of stoppage time, Portugal and Holland were at each other's throats.

In short order, the game was on a constant verge of riot, and Russian ref Ivanov did nothing to gain control. Unlike the experienced refs that should be officiating this top-priority games, Ivanov did nothing to curb the excessive violence and fouling that was goin on. Instead, the ref responded to the actions by distributing the most cards in World Cup history. There have been ugly games before, but if refs did not require 16 yellow cards in 80 years of World Cup play, why would they need them now?

As a Netherlands supporter, I greatly regret the elimination of my boys in Orange. Nevertheless, the Portuguese deserve credit for a fantastic game. Their attacks and counterattacks were full of speed and precision, spontaneously setting up the game's most dangerous strikers with many opportunities.

The Dutch had their shots, and the took them. In games like this, hindsight reveals every close shot and miss as a mistake. The king of the mistakes for the Dutch was striker Kuyt, whose appearance over Ruud van Nistelrooy was suprising in the first place. Kuyt blew several touches, and shot high on many occasions. How many times did the ball slip wide of his head or just out of reach of his volleys. He is the Peter Crouch of the Dutch team, and it was ridiculous for Coach van Basten to play him in so pivotal a game.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is a finisher used to playing under pressure, and performing under the gun. He would have struck home any number of those van Persie crosses to Kuyt, and changed the game. Instead, the Dutch must wonder about another game another time. Another for years.

Portugal will be done in the next round against England anyway. Cristiano Ronaldo is hurt, Deco and that other guy are out with red cards and the Three Lions are destined for greatness. Forget about it Figo, the English advance into the Final Four next week.