Dutch coach Marco van Basten said that Russian referee Valentin Ivanov
spoiled Sunday's round of 16 match after his team lost 1-0 to Portugal and bowed
out of the World Cup.
"It is a pity the referee made a mess of this game," said Van Basten,
formerly one of the most deadly marksmen of the game. "It was an open and very
spectacular game but we could not score a goal."
"I think in the second half we only played 20 or 25 minutes of football," he
added.
Ivanov produced 16 yellows and sent off four players during the stormy
encounter, which sent Portugal into the quarters with appointing a knockout
showdown against England.
