Holland's penalty shoot-out victory over Sweden means the Dutch have now reached the semi-finals of the European Championship three times since they won the tournament in 1998.
Their 5-4 triumph after a goalless 120 minutes of football was also the first time that Holland have ever won a shoot-out.
In 1992, Denmark reached the final after spot-kick glory against the Dutch while in 2000 it was Italy's turn to send the Oranje packing via penalties.
For good measure the Dutch also managed to go out of Euro'96 and World Cup '98 in the same manner.
But Arjen Robben's neatly-taken winning kick in Faro's Estadio Algarve meant that the Dutch were finally able to jump on top of each other in a celebratory bundle while someone else sat desolate in the centre-circle.
Holland's turn for more penalty misery may yet come because against Sweden they lacked the real craft to break down a makeshift defence led superbly by Olof Mellberg.
In the semi-final they will find an equally solid back four and, as England fans know, Portugal are in the last eight courtesy of a penalty shoot-out win of their own.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's team have had a similar tournament to the Dutch, both have never really found their top form and are somewhat fortunate to have progressed as far as they have.
Both teams will also know that with the favourites gone, Euro 2004 will provide the best opportunity to win a major tournament in some years.
The semi-final promises to be an intriguing affair though a tight, cagey match seems more likely than a seven-goal thriller.
Against Sweden, in terms of possession and territory, Holland may have just edged it but their only genuine effort of the first half came from Robben, whose vicious shot from distance was well saved by Andreas Isaksson.
The second half was more promising but they lacked the bite and killer instinct to really upset the Swedes.
In extra-time they did hit a post but this was more down to Isaksson allowing a regulation shot from Robben to squirm away from him and onto the upright before it was gratefully cleared by Andreas Jakobsson.
While Robben was excellent down the left flank, he delivered just once meaningful cross throughout the match with his best moments coming from his aforementioned stinging shots.
On the right wing, Andy van der Meyde was mostly anonymous and that left Ruud van Nistelrooy to once again plough a lone furrow in the middle.
Apart from a dangerous diagonal ball from Clarence Seedorf there was little service for the striker and on that occasion Isaksson saved bravely at his feet to deny him a clear shot.
All but two of Holland's goals in this tournament have come from Van Nistelrooy and if they are to beat Portugal then they will need to provide more opportunities for the Manchester United striker.
As for Sweden's frontmen, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrik Larsson were equally quiet until the introduction of Kim Kallstrom who caused havoc down the left.
Inspired by the youngster Sweden will count themselves unfortunate to go out after they hit the woodwork twice in extra-time.
First Larsson's shot on the turn struck the top of the bar then Freddie Ljungberg's drive came back off a post when the midfielder should probably have done better.
Sweden also had the best chance to score in normal time when Jaap Stam gifted Ibrahimovic a chance from close range but Phillip Cocu cleared brilliantly from the line.
It was not to be though.
Ibrahimovic skied his penalty and then Mellberg's was saved by the stretching Edwin van Der Sar.
Mellberg's was the crucial miss but at least Sweden's skipper can return to Aston Villa knowing that Darius Vassell will be waiting, feeling equally as miserable.
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