Historic draw with flavour of defeat

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu / Postimees

Estonian national footballers’ 2:2 draw with World Cup finalist Holland came across as defeat. Even so, Friday’s game may boldly be proclaimed our best ever.

«The point does justice to all that happened,» concluded Konstantin Vassiljev, dominant figure, an hour and a half after the dramatic game – with initial emotions cooled off a bit. A few short minutes stood between Estonia and a triumph of the ages; nevertheless, the guests’ tenacity robbed the desired victory during extra time. What will the game be remembered for?

Penalty or not?

«I was passing the ball back to Pareiko,» assured Raio Piiroja, punished with error by the Ukrainian referee Sergii Boiko, in extra minutes, leading to a penalty – scored by the felled  Robin van Persie personally. «Just got a message from Holland: their own TV commentators wondered at how easy the penalty was given,» added Mr Piiroja.

«This was no penalty, just body contact by both players. Raio was playing the ball, in the situation. We could’ve have pulled off a sensation; now everybody is disappointed,» sighed the captain Ragnar Klavan. «With the same kind of thing at Holland’s goal, Estonia would never earn a penalty,» Mr Vassiljev agreed.

A more peaceful comment came from football association president Aivar Pohlak: «Piiroja had his arm around van Persie, while passing the ball – was the arm hindering the opponent or not... » Mr Pohlak wondered after reviewing the video clip. «Situations like this have lead to penalties before, and that’s the way it’s going to be tomorrow. The opposite also being true, a classic case of 50:50. A young Ukrainian guy, trained by Collina himself – so we will conclude it was a penalty,» said he.

The Dutch head coach Louis van Gaal, escaping another tight spot in Tallinn in dozen years time, complimented his team’s ability to fight till the very end. «We may surely claim this is my lucky arena. But, then again... the team always plays till the whistle blows,» he noted.

Fresh father’s miracle night

There was hardly a «wrong moment» for Konstantin Vassiljev, Friday night. Mr Rüütli’s gamble to let him loose to attacks proved bullseye. The goal bringing Estonia back to 1:1 restored hopes and the wondersome score on minute 57^th earned quite a roar from the 10,210 people present on bleachers. «Yeah we did score decently,» the hero smiled modestly.

Mr Vassiljev was praised by both Mr van Gaal and Mr van Persie. «Already before the game I did mention he was on the roll. The first goal, he did that from nothing, impacting the entire game,­» said the Dutch coach. «Everybody thought we would have it easy, but the Estonians did real well. Especially the boy that did the two goals,» said Mr van Persie. In addition to the praise earned from the famed opponents, Mr Vassiljev is a highly likely Silver Ball candidate with no national goal comparable by beauty or importance in sight. 

Shock for starters

The game opened, for Estonians, like a horror movie, as, on the second minute already, Arjen Robben hit the net and without two super-parries by Sergei Pareiko, it could have been 3:0 by minute ten. Until the goal scored by Mr Vassiljev, the Robben-led Dutch windmill was in full swing, the Estonians just trotting along hardly touching the ball at all.

«Initial 15 minutes was power play, the difference in quality clearly,» admitted coach Tarmo Rüütli. «The ball was moving so fast, the Dutch can technically do that. During all that time, we had no chance whatsoever for counter-attack. Just had to patiently hope for an opportunity – and it did come,» summarised Mr Rüütli.

War of words

Failing to get the upper hand on the grass, the Dutch launched the verbal weapon. By name, the Estonian goalkeeper Pareiko, the most active to argue back, desired to single out Bruno Martins Indi and Mr van Persie. «I just wanted to ask why they had no respect for our team. I was asking why they kept coming and talking to us like that. To van Persie, I always answered back, even in a few words,» said Mr Pareiko, who had to be physically held back by teammates, once the final whistle sounded.

In extra time, the goalkeeper also earned a yellow card for trying to delay time. All in all, a whopping five yellows were shown the Estonians, in the extra minutes added to the game. «Nobody should earn cards when these may be avoided,» said the coach Tarmo Rüütli when it was all over. «I have to take it as it is, but never have I liked such easy cards. This is stupid, but – alas! – not all have self-control, at all times.»

Ranks thinned

The cards come with pain, as playing Ukraine, Tuesday, Mr Vassiljev and Aleksandr Dmitrijev cannot play. Nor the «red carded» Mr Piiroja.

Coach Rüütli will be hard pressed with the defence, probably plugging the holes with Martin Vunk, Sergei Mošnikov and Joel Lindpere – the latter shifted backwards. And, luckily, Sander Puri is back with muscle trauma cured.

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Grades to Estonians

Sergei Pareiko, 8. Without him, the 0:3 by 19^th minute would have meant sure defeat. Even so, he tended to miss it kicking the ball into court. Emotionally, he always burns bright; at times, this tends to cloud soundness of mind at decisions..

Enar Jääger, 9. «I removed Jeremain Lens as he just couldn’t pass his defender, not even once,» The Dutch coach said after the game. What a compliment to the peaceful and balanced Mr Jääger.

Ragnar Klavan, 9. The captain did his job, confident in air battles. Especially stoic in final minutes, under heavy Dutch fire.

Raio Piiroja, 7. Nothing doing, penalty takes a grade off. A real fighter who also erred, fatally.

Dmitri Kruglov, 6. Did better, in second half, against the dangerous Arjen Robben. True, with a little help from his teammates.

Konstantin Vassiljev, 10. Louis van Gaal knows what he is talking about: becoming a father, a couple of days prior to game, gave him wings. Confident and bold, he proved quite an engine. Brought Estonia back into play with initial goal, the second one will ever be remembered – in Estonia, that is.

Martin Vunk and Aleksandr Dmitrijev, 8. Both did an equally amazing job, in mid field, locking it up for the Dutch in second half. Remarkable achievement by men usually not overly noticed for their hard labour.  

Joel Lindpere, 7. One of his best games for Estonia; attacking while also helping the defence. Super pass leading to Goal 2 by Mr Vassiljev. The only error – passivity with the initial Dutch goal scored.

Henrik Ojamaa, 6. Came alive in 2^nd half, after initial nervousness. A great help in defence. Proved strong till end of game. A god job by the youngest on the team.

Henri Anier, 6. Hard worker without the ball, after fragility in 1^st half. Not having a good day, he still gave his all.

Sergei Zenjov, 9. Sharp, gutsy. No goals, but a great change player. Plagued the Dutch defence, in second half.

Gert Kams and Mikk Reintam played too little to earn a mark.