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This is an archive article published on June 11, 2008

We made stupid errors: Russia coach Hiddink

Guus Hiddink said that his team was 'rather naive' on the field and conceded goals like a school team.

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Russia were guilty of making stupid mistakes in their 4-1 defeat by Spain, coach Guus Hiddink said on Tuesday.

8220;If you see the second goal, if you see the fourth goal, some school teams don8217;t make those errors,8221; the Dutchman said after his side were sunk by a David Villa hat-trick in the Euro 2008 Group D game.

8220;It8217;s not the members of the defence, it8217;s a matter of the whole team, knowing when the fire starts and knowing when to be firemen. To be honest I was rather angry at halftime because of this naive behaviour.8221;

Hiddink said Russia made 8220;stupid errors8221;, pointing to the fact they conceded a second goal just before halftime.

8220;We were rather naive in various situations,8221; he said. 8220;We had a lesson in being punished by the counter-attack for the second goal.8221;

Hiddink said Russia had to improve in their next matches against Greece in Salzburg on Saturday and against Sweden in Innsbruck four days later.

8220;At the end of the game in the locker room I said this is a tournament of three games,8221; said the Dutchman.

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8220;We have to learn within hours not to be naive. If we can manage to learn fast we have chances in the other two games.8221;

He said it remained to be seen whether Spain8217;s performance was an indication of things to come at the championship.

8220;We will see how Spain react when they get more opposition 8230; against a team who know the law of international competition. We helped them too much today,8221; he said

 

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