NUREMBERG, June 25 (Xinhua) -- 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. Enditem