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Another chapter in eternal saga

Ruud van Nistelrooij ended his long frustration with a goal that ensured the Netherlands' orange-clad fans were cheered.

A wave of orange rolled towards the Estádio do Dragão, Netherlands fans wearing the usual mixture of shirts, boiler suits and big hats, but one couple stood oblivious to it all, their eyes fixed on one another, faces almost touching.

Enduring image
Then the photographer's shutter clicked and the two men - one sporting dyed orange hair, the other a German flag painted on his cheek - went their separate ways. A picture can say a thousand words and this one spelt out that one of European football's great rivalries was about to be played out again.

Vivid memories
This was the 36th edition of a fixture which stirs strong feelings - witness the whistling which drowned out the naming of the German team and also greeted their national anthem before kick-off. It also inspires treasured memories. Of Gerd Müller winning West Germany the FIFA World Cup in 1974, of Marco van Basten earning revenge in the 1988 UEFA European Championship semi-final en route to a Netherlands triumph on German soil.

New legend
One man aiming to match those two striking greats is Ruud van Nistelrooij. The Manchester United FC forward is playing in his first major finals here and tonight he did not make a bad start. In a match of few real scoring opportunities, Van Nistelrooij rescued the Dutch from defeat, firing acrobatically past Oliver Kahn with nine minutes remaining.

Contrasting careers
The goal must have meant a lot to Van Nistelrooij, who missed UEFA EURO 2000™ with a serious knee injury which cost him 12 months of his career. He went into the tournament as the Netherlands' first-choice striker, something he has waited a long time for. In 1995, when Patrick Kluivert scored the winning goal in the UEFA Champions League final, Van Nistelrooij, born on the same day in 1976, had just completed his second season at FC Den Bosch in the Dutch second division, scoring three goals.

Kluivert edged out
Ever since then Van Nistelrooij has been playing catch-up. His hat-trick in the qualifying play-off victory against Scotland last November helped his prospects but even then coach Dick Advocaat did his utmost to incorporate both Van Nistelrooij and Kluivert by experimenting with a 4-4-2 formation. After a 1-0 home defeat by the Republic of Ireland this month, he reverted to his tried and trusted 4-3-3 and Van Nistelrooij - who has played much more football this season than Kluivert - got the nod.

Early frustration
He could have made the perfect start but kicked thin air from Phillip Cocu's clever chipped pass. For long spells thereafter he was frustrated, although he inadvertently created the best Dutch opening of the first period, when he let the ball run through his legs and Rafael van der Vaart shot just past the far post.

German pride
By then the Dutch were trailing to Torsten Frings' 30th-minute free-kick and the German fans - if outnumbered and literally outshone by their orange counterparts - were outsinging them. "Germany are here" was their message and despite recent defeats against Romania and Hungary, their team were proving typically resolute now the main event had begun, not least the hard-running Michael Ballack, whose efforts roaming across the pitch earned him the Man of the Match award.

Striker's relief
Van Nistelrooij's late contribution was worth the wait, though. Having argued angrily with Christian Wörns after struggling to escape his attentions at several corners, Van Nistelrooij had the last laugh. Holding off the defender, he connected with Andy Van der Meyde's cross and in doing so must have taken a pressing weight off his shoulders.