The 37-year-old goalkeeper announced before Euro 2008 that the tournament would be his last and he bowed out on Saturday night as Russia defeated Holland 3-1 after extra-time.

"I think we had a great tournament and unfortunately we couldn't get the level of play that we did in the first two games [against Italy and France]," he said.

"We created too few chances ourselves and gave too much away. Russia played very well, we did not - and that hurts. You have one bad game in the knockout stages and you are out. That's the way it is.

"Russia did very well against us. They are a very good side and they have a great chance now. They're in the semi-finals, one of four potential champions, so they have a great chance."

dutch record

Van der Sar's final match was his 128th in total, a Dutch record. He admitted that he will miss European Championships and World Cups.

"It's the end of my international career - the tournaments I will miss most, they are the nicest to experience," he added. "I have enjoyed it, that's for sure. I have reached quarter-finals and semi-finals, but that's not enough.

"You always want more than that. But every two years there is only one team that wins the tournament, and in my playing days that has not been for me to experience. We lacked the necessary horsepower to make the extra step forward.

"I had the feeling that we could have saved the day if it had gone to a penalty shoot-out, but that was all gone after they scored their second goal."