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Hiddink praises "excellent" Spain

27/06/2008

Russian coach Guus Hiddink has praised Spain after he saw his side limp out of Euro 2008 in a 3-0 defeat.

"We lost to a really good team from Spain," Hiddink said after the game.

"Spain were excellent and deserved their victory. I am disappointed by the result, but I am proud of my team."

Big things were expected of Russia in last night's game after they shocked Holland in the quarter-finals, defeating the Dutch 3-1 in extra-time.

The Russians and their star player Andrei Arshavin, however, failed to live up to expectations and rarely posed Spain any threat.

"The disappointment of tonight is in our head, but when our emotions calm down we are very proud, not just the results but the way they have played," Hiddink said.

"Of course after a game where we are defeated we are disappointed, that is logical.

"We could play with Spain for the first half and part of the second, there was still a game, but their plan to tire us led to our marking being loose in midfield so we had to run a lot.

"That is the moment they had the quality to strike. It is a very deserved win - it's very difficult to play against a team like that who can play one-touch football. I hope they play a good final."

The 61-year-old Dutchman has now lost three semi-finals in major competitions, having lost with South Korea and Holland in the 2002 and 1998 World Cups.