Dutch, Yugoslavs set for showdown

ROTTERDAM, JUNE 24. Co-host Holland and unpredictable Yugoslavia meet here on Sunday in a Euro 2000 quarterfinal tie pitting two of the most talented yet rugged teams in the competition against each other.

After Yugoslavia's 1-0 victory over Norway, coach Nils Johan Semb accused the Yugoslavs of `sabotage' following an often farcical second half replete with yellow cards and riddled with fouls, play-acting and off-the-ball incidents.

Vujadin Boskov's side was forced to hang on for the final five minutes of the match after Mateja Kezman's dismissal in the 88th minute for an ugly foul on Erik Mykland precisely 44 seconds after he came off the bench.

In earlier matches, Sinisa Mihajlovic was sent off in its opening 3-3 draw with Slovenia and Slavisa Jokanovic is suspended for the Dutch game following his red card in the 4-3 loss to Spain.

It could be said both, Yugoslavian footballers and the press, are finding it difficult to strike the right balance between asserting themselves and outright bad sportsmanship.

The Yugoslavian press slammed French referee Gilles Veissiere following the defeat to Spain which saw the Yugoslavs let in two injury time goals.

Serbian television station RTS said only, `games other than sporting ones' would prevent Yugoslavia going further in the competition which was interpreted as a clear reference that it may be robbed by the referee.

When asked if he expected a physically tough contest, Rijkaard said at a press conference on Friday: ``Yugoslavia has a certain way of playing and it goes all out for the result. That is not a criticism and it has technical skills and everything a really professional team needs at the moment. I have to concentrate on our own team and give it advice not to react in the wrong way.''

There is evidence in this fixture that two years is not a long time in football. Holland's team for this game is only likely to have two changes from the 1998 team which played Yugoslavia, with Boudewijn Zenden and Patrick Kluivert likely to play instead of Clarence Seedorf and Marc Overmars.

Of the Yugoslavian 11 which started the 1998 game against Holland, losing 1-2 in Toulouse, eight are still in the current squad.

Holland's probable line up is Van der Sar (or Westerveld) in goal, with Michael Reiziger, Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer and Arthur Numan in defence.

Paul Bosvelt has a slight chance of keeping Reiziger out of the right back position after his impressive showing against France. Numan is likely to get the left back spot, over talented ball player Giovanni van Bronckhorst back from suspension, because of his defensive strength.

Ronald de Voer (or Overmars), Phillip Cocu, Edgar Davids and Boudewijn Zenden would be in midfield.

Up front, Dennis Bergkamp, criticised by legend Johan Cruyff on television for his performance against France, is expected to keep his place alongside Patrick Kluivert in attack.

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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