Hiddink.. Hiddink.. Hiddink...

Hiddink.. Hiddink.. Hiddink... I heard that chant during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea... The Koreans had woken up one day and found themselves in the Semi-finals of the FIFA World cup, something they could've only dreamt about.... What was a fantasy for the Koreans was a nightmare for the Spaniards and then the Italians... They played sublime football, with each time a Korean player gets hold off the ball, the tantric chant for their new found God, Hiddink, to posses the soul of the player, became stronger.... For it was he who played all their matches, especially those of the knockout stage, alone.. Well, may be not alone, they did get some passionate help from the refs, who were probably promised some Korean hookers after the match.

But Hiddink had done that country proud.... He had done more than anyone, even he, could've imagined... Critics called his success ephemeral, and that it could not last any longer than it already has.... Then it was Australia... Here he did not need help from the refs, because players like Tim Cahill were good enough to play spectacular football when possessed by his coaching. They reached the Round of 16 to face Italy, only to be undone by some poor refereeing, which resulted in a penalty in the dying stages of the match, one which Francesco Totti converted with his famous scoop.... Italy would then go on to win the Championship.... When Russia were gifted with the coaching services of Mr. Hiddink, whose salary is partly bankrolled by Mr. Roman Abrahmovic (Owner of FC Chelsea), they expected him to win titles everyday.. Even when Russia were not lined up for any game, not even friendlies, only greatness was expected of them. Such are the expectations from Moscow to Vladivostok....

The qualifying campaign for Euro 08 was nothing but forgettable... They showed grit and verve in the opening part of the campaign, defeating England and almost securing a place for Euro 08 finals, with only the lowly Israel in their way, a country not known for giving birth to any footballing greats... But they could only manage a draw from that one, leaving it to the English to decide their fate, a favour which the English gleefully returned by losing to the Croats at Wembley...

Russia started their Euro 08 finals campaign poorly with surrendering their form and eventually the match to the Spanish Matadors..... Not much was expected of them and even after defeating the completely out of place defending champions, Greece, no one expected them to even put up a fight to the Swedes... Not with Ibrahimovic finally doing some justice to his game by beginning to prove himself at the bigger international circuit...

But Russia gave them a sudden bolt by packing their bags and sending them on a Sputnik out of Switzerland....

This is Hiddink's 3rd team in twice as many years and with each team he has reached the knockout stage of a big tournament.. The Russians probably the weakest of the 3 during his tenure with the teams, face their biggest task all season, The Oranje.. Can Hiddink pull out another rabbit from his Hat, only time can tell.....

As the quarter finals start from tonight, the clear favourites are The Oranje and The Spanish, 2 teams not known to do well in the final stages of big tournaments... Italy's win over France which secured their place in the quarters against Spain, has brought in new life to the defending WORLD CHAMPIONS..... Croatia, group leaders after defeating pre-tournament favourites Germany, face the resurgent Turks..... Germany whose form seems to be spiralling downwards will face the triad of Ronaldo-Deco-Gomes and their in-form Portuguese team... Guesstimates can be and will be made in plenty, but betting on any team to reach the semi-finals would give you only as much chance as winning the jackpot in a slot machine…

But then again, as Oscar Wilde once so aptly put it, “I can resist anything but temptation.”

Anthony Palathingal