A soccer fan of the Netherlands react after the World Cup 2006 soccer match between the Netherlands and Portugal, in Nuremberg, June 25, 2006. [Reuters]

De Volkskrant daily newspaper headlined "Bitter defeat in derailed duel" and spoke of a battle "characterised by shameless provocation, serious fouls, fraudulent falls, arbitrary errors and a goal, by Portugal's Maniche in the first half".

The Algemeen Dagblad daily offered advice on how to deal with the loss, suggesting homeopathic anti-depressants, such as St John's wort, or a vacation in the sun.

Dutch public broadcaster NOS said some eight million people in the country of 16 million watched the Dutch squad lose 1-0 in the stormy match on Sunday evening, in which Russian referee Valentin Ivanov sent off four players.

Mass-circulation daily De Telegraaf's banner headline read: "Tears after battle -- we better, they cleverer".

"It degenerated into a life-or-death match, with one player who was mercilessly eliminated, Cristiano Ronaldo, and a bucket of red and yellow cards.

"....referee Valentin Ivanov put the yardstick of tolerance too low too early and ultimately killed the match that way," the Telegraaf said.

On the Dutch play, the Telegraaf commented: "The fighting spirit was awesome but the execution little thought out."

"Sad Retreat" was the headline of the Algemeen Dagblad daily. "End of the World Cup after bizarre gangster duel, Orange in tears after 1-0 loss."

The only World Cup-related front page item of financial daily Het Financieele Dagblad, meanwhile, was an interview with Chief Financial Officer Koos Kramer of food group CSM, who concluded that Portugal deserved to win.

"But what a disappointment," Kramer was quoted as saying.