Ruud van Nistelrooy fired a hat-trick as the Netherlands crushed Scotland 6-0 tonight to reach the Euro 2004 finals and avenge a shock 1-0 defeat in last weekend's playoff first leg in Glasgow.
Midfielder Wesley Sneijder engineered the second leg walkover, rifling home in the 14th minute before providing identical free-kicks that were headed in by defender Andre Ooijer and van Nistelrooy before halftime.
Van Nistelrooy then scored either side of a Frank de Boer header as the Dutch tore a rickety defence to shreds and sealed one of the worst days in the history of Scottish football.
By contrast, the emphatic win marked a return to the game's centrestage for the Dutch, who failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan after a play-off defeat to the Republic of Ireland at Lansdowne Road.
Russia broke Welsh hearts with a 1-0 victory at the Millennium Stadium to seal their place at the finals in Portugal.
Full back Vadim Yevseyev's 22nd-minute header earned Georgy Yartsev's side the narrowest of victories after a 0-0 first leg draw in Moscow and ended Wales's dream of a first appearance at a major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
Yevseyev nodded home a Rolan Gusev free kick to settle the tie.
Giggs hit a post in response for Wales, who had led their qualifying group by five points at one stage, but Russia defended well to leave manager Mark Hughes and the rest of the principality frustrated once again.