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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

World media reacts to Rangers Champions League glory as blundering PSV ripped apart by high press heroics

It's the morning after the night before for Rangers fans with the club finally back among Europe's elite.

The Champions League playoff was finely poised in the Philips Stadium after a scintillating first leg at Ibrox, but in-form Antonio Colak fired Rangers to the group stage promised land for the first time in 12 years as he secured a 3-2 aggregate victory. It was a nerve-shredding night in the heat of Holland but Colak proved to be the coolest man in Eindhoven when Malik Tillman squared the ball to the Croat after robbing defender Andre Ramalho of the ball with Gio van Bronckhorst's patented high press.

PSV keeper Walter Benitez and Ramalho were both in the firing line following the match as the media picked apart the lacklustre showing of Ruud van Nistelrooy's side, with the standard dipping in the second half with Luuk de Jong limping off through injury at the break. Having held Rangers at Ibrox, the Eredivise side came into the game on their own patch as heavy favourites.

The historic Rangers' achievement was the pick of playoff ties on Wednesday night and caught the attention of the world's media. Media in the Netherlands didn't hold back when it came to PSV, while the achievement of The Light Blues didn't go unnoticed. Here's a selection of the best reaction from around the globe.

BN De Stem (Netherlands)

'"Make us proud' wrote the PSV supporters on a colossal banner before the game. The players would have liked that, but it didn't work out on a night that ended in powerlessness and frustration. On the threshold of the Champions League. Then the goal is close, yet so far away. PSV simply fell short against a not so special opponent. With a 0-1 victory, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his Rangers FC certainly didn't get too much."

NOS (Netherlands)

"PSV has not qualified for the group stage of the Champions League. After the 2-2 draw in Glasgow, Eindhoven lost 1-0 on Wednesday evening. The group stage of the Europa League now awaits PSV. A goal by striker Antonio Colak turned out to be sufficient for the Rangers trainer Giovanni van Bronckhorst for a crucial victory. That goal fell after fumbling in the build-up at PSV."

NU (Netherlands)

"PSV missed participation in the Champions League on Wednesday. A blunder by André Ramalho cost the team of coach Ruud van Nistelrooy the head in the playoff match against Rangers FC in Eindhoven (0-1), after the first game in Glasgow had ended in a 2-2 draw.

"PSV failed to score via Luuk de Jong and Cody Gakpo on the stroke of half-time and the club was billed for that after the interruption. The team from Eindhoven introduced the goal themselves: Ramalho blundered after a bad pass from goalkeeper Walter Benitez. Antonio Colak punished the mistake on behalf of the team of coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

"Despite an imposed chance for Gakpo again, PSV was unable to score. As a result, defensive blunders cost PSV a ticket for the Champions League. In Glasgow, Benitez was still responsible for a goal with a blunder."

Marca (Spain)

"A very worthwhile victory for the Scots in a very even tie, that can even be considered a surprise since PSV had home advantage. However, tonight's result is perhaps somewhat unfair for the local team, who had more and better chances, but lacked aim. Luuk De Jong's absence due to injury in the second half was key and a defensive error between Ramalho and Benitez allowed the Scots to return to Europe's top competition. The Dutch will have to settle for the Europa League."

L'Equipe (France)

"Faced with a sluggish but harmless PSV team, especially after De Jong left injured at the break, Rangers took advantage of a defensive error by Ramalho on the hour mark to clinch their qualification. Twelve years after their last participation in the group stage of the Champions League, Rangers will be present during the draw for the Champions League which will take place this Thursday in Istanbul. The Scottish club got rid of a clumsy PSV Eindhoven."

Fox Sports (Australia)

"Antonio Colak scored the only goal that took Rangers into the Champions League group stages on Wednesday, a year after he had been responsible for knocking the Scottish side out of Europe’s elite club tournament. Colak found the target on the hour mark to secure a 1-0 win at PSV Eindhoven and seal a 3-2 aggregate victory in their play-off.

"The Croatian international tucked the ball away after Malik Tillman had created the chance following a mix-up in the Dutch defence. Rangers will now go into Thursday’s draw having secured a place in the money-spinning group stages for the first time since 2010.

"Twelve months ago, Colak was public enemy number one for Ibrox fans when he scored twice for Malmo to give the Swedish club victory over Rangers in the third qualifying round. They will join Glasgow rivals Celtic in the draw, the first time in 14 years that both of the Scottish giants have been in the group stage at the same time."

Globo (Portugal)

"Rangers secured a spot in the group stage of the Champions League on Wednesday. The Scottish team defeated PSV, from the Netherlands, 1-0, in Eindhoven, after a 2-2 draw in the first leg in Glasgow.

The hero of the classification was forward Colak, who scored in the 15th minute of the second half. After that, PSV still pressed in search of an equaliser, but did not overcome Rangers' marking."

The Guardian (London)

"Another famous European night for Rangers, this one returning them to the promised land as a 12-year exile from the Champions League group stages came to its end.

"Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team held their nerve against opponents coached by his close friend Ruud van Nistelrooy. Antonio Colak’s second-half goal came as PSV, frustrated by their dominance failing to result in a clear opening, coughed up a catastrophic mistake. The outstanding Malik Tillman forced the error that means Rangers will join Celtic in Thursday’s draw, the first time in 15 years Scotland’s big two have been there together."

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