Jubilant Russia celebrates win over Dutch

By Gennady Fyodorov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vast numbers of ecstatic Russians celebrated well into the night after their team reached the Euro 2008 semi-finals on Saturday with a thoroughly deserved 3-1 extra-time win over Netherlands.

Hundreds of thousands of Muscovites poured on to the streets within minutes of the final whistle in Basel where Russia, coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, stunned their much fancied opponents with a great display of attacking football.

The area around the Kremlin in Moscow's centre was jammed as people of all ages cheered euphorically at the unexpected result. Fans danced on phone booths and climbed on car roofs as the normally stern police kept a distance.

"We finally did it. Congratulations to everyone," yelled a young fan, wrapped in the Russian flag as he walked along the Manezh Square, metres away from the red-brick Kremlin walls.

Others praised Dutch-born coach Hiddink. "Guus, Guus, Guus", the fans shouted into the warm night air.

According to Moscow police, nearly 500,000 fans joined the party across the city of over 12 million people.

"In the city centre alone we had more than 200,000 people celebrating the Russian victory," a police spokesman was quoted as saying by local media.

Russia President Dmitry Medvedev also congratulated the players on their win and suggested their Dutch manager could receive an unexpected reward.