Euro 2000 semi finals - Holland: player by player

Euro 2000 co hosts Holland are expected to continue their sensational quarter final form when they play Italy in the semis in Amsterdam tomorrow but several of their top stars have already failed to impress Italian opponents.

Patrick Kluivert, Michael Reiziger and Dennis Bergkamp all struggled with the rigours of the Italian game. Here is a player guide to the most impressive team at Euro 2000 so far but Italy will give them their hardest test yet.

GOALKEEPERS

EDWIN VAN DER SAR

Tall and thin goalkeeper with calm exterior and good technical ability. He is a good gatherer of crosses and often plays in the national side with players he knows from the Ajax side in Dutch club football. Secure hands and good reflexes although he may be vulnerable to low shots and at his near post. A season at Juventus has only added to his commanding presence and deep self confidence. A great kicker of the ball but an injury problem could see him miss the climax of Euro 2000.

ED DE GOEY

Great shot stopper who does not dominate his defenders enough or tell them what to do. Introspection is not an option for a goalkeeper who has to take control of every situation in his own box. His kicking has improved along with his self belief but he must improve when dealing with crosses if he is to be more than an understudy to the phlegmatic van der Sar. He now holds the Chelsea record for keeping the most clean sheets in one season and has a great hard working attitude to his game.

SANDER WESTERVELD

One of the best Liverpool signings of recent years has helped the Anfield club to become the best defence in the Premiership. Tall and confident, Westerveld has good kicking skills and reads the game very well. Positionally sound he works weak with defenders and can call on good reflexes if he gets into trouble. He conceded three goals against Brazil on his international debut a year ago and he is now set to step into the team with van der sar's recent injury problem.

DEFENDERS

MICHAEL REIZIGER

This left back has disappointed at AC Milan and FC Barcelona but has the speed and technique to recover the reputation he earned with Ajax as one of the best young defenders in Europe. Reizeger has a security with the national side that he has not enjoyed at club level for two years and this is helped by many of the faces around him being familiar from his Ajax days. He is a strong tackler with a good positional sense and fulfils his defensive duties rather than expending energy on attack but he is a smooth runner with the ball. He failed at Milan and needs to prove himslef to Italian critics.

FRANK DE BOER

One half of the only twins who have played in a World Cup finals, Frank is the heir to Danny Blind at the heart of the Dutch defence. Good in the air and a fine passer he holds the centre of the defence together with his commanding presence. Very fast on the turn and across the penalty area, his interceptions are a feature of the Dutch defensive play. Recent loss of form with Barca could knock his fitness and attitude this month.

ARTUR NUMAN

Versatile defender who can bring the ball forward into midfield where he passes well. Reluctant to completely leave his defensive duties and is unlikely to score but he does have a good shot. Strong in the air and technically fine with a good balance in his run. Recent injuries have damaged his case for being the first choice left back and Zenden may be played in that position. An ankle injury means he will now miss the rest of the tournament.

JAAP STAM

Large, heavy and powerful defender who was the subject of a £10 million deal with Manchester United in 1998. Commanding in the air and a good long passer of the ball, he is also quick enough to man mark. Some lapses and mistakes do not detract from his positional ability and his form was a major factor in United's treble of 1999. For the national team he is dependable and should be fit to lead the Dutch defence.

BERT KONTERMAN

Tall defender who relies on speed and positioning to win the ball rather than heavy tackling. A squad member who will be used only if Jaap Stam is injured or loses form. Set to join Glasgow Rangers next month.

MIDFIELDERS

ARON WINTER

Midfield runner who never seems to get far enough forward to exploit his talents in attack. An undemonstrative hard worker in the middle of the Dutch side who devotes his game to chasing after the ball and opponents. A good passer of the ball but a slight build detracts from his attempts to win the ball in midfield.

PAUL BOSVELT

The Feyenoord captain in their championship season last year, Bosvelt is a midfield runner who does not have the range of passing to dominate matches. Look for him to tidy up play in midfield or break up attacks if he is put onto the pitch by Rijkaard and he has now emerged to play a vital role in the Dutch midfield. It is unlikely though that Italy will allow Bosvelt much room or time to make impressive runs into attacking positions.

GIOVANNI VAN BRONKHORST

Arguably the player of the season for Glasgow Rangers as they compiled an impressive league campaign and came close to good things in Europe. Far more forceful and convincing that Boudewijn Zenden with whom he is often compared. Frank Rijkaard does not like to play Van Bronkhorst in his favoured central midfield position but instead he is included on the left side of defence and understudies Rangers team mate Artur Numan. His talent deserves more of a chance from the coach whose reliance on familiar faces from the past may hinder his midfield in Euro 2000.

PHILIP COCU

Adaptable midfielder who is fast and has experience of playing as a striker in club football in Holland before a move to FC Barcelona. He had a good tournament in the last European Championships and has carried on to become a vital player for Holland. Knits the team's passing play and attacks together very well and also helps to defend. A major factor in recent Dutch success has been Cocu's ability to work alongside Davids as a powerful midfield combination.

CLARENCE SEEDORF

Controversial and outspoken figure who clashed openly and at length with former Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, Seedorf has been accused of arrogance in his attempts to confront some sensitive issues in Dutch football. He earns his place in the side through his ability as a midfield holding player who adds considerable strength to the Dutch defensive line. A very strong tackler who wins the ball for others and hits a good free kick. A spell with Real Madrid is now over to the player's obvious relief and the last two seasons in Spain saw him play more in wide positions. Euro 2000 should prove the Inter Milan man's best stage yet or an exposure of modest technique and stale ideas. He now complains about not feeling "Dutch" and certainly shares none of his team mates excessive technical gifts.

EDGAR DAVIDS

All action midfielder who has rediscovered his old form for Juventus. Davids has the attacking drive to get much further forward than the rest of the Dutch midfield and he can finish when he gets the chance. Very quick to spot danger and tackle, he is a fierce competitor for the Oranje. A foot operation in the week before the finals should be shrugged off in time for his to take his regular place in the side. he will wear special glasses after a glaucoma problem needed surgery last summer. Argumentative but the vital payer in the Dutch outfield whose power game has grown in stature during dominant displays at Euro 2000.

MARC OVERMARS

Regarded as one of the fastest players in Europe his career was threatened for over a year by a serious knee injury but he has returned to fitness to develope into an excellent attacking option for the national side who missed his wing play. Overmars is a good finisher and his devotion to flank play and success at it means he has no real equivalent in the Dutch squad or perhaps Euro 2000. A medium to poor season for Arsenal against disrupted by injuries has seen a move to Barcelona collapse and Lazio emerge as summer suitors. His strong all round game in wide positions has seen him come into good form in the latter part of the finals.

RONALD DE BOER

The creative centre of the Dutch midfield who will dictate the pace of their attacking play after he has collected the ball from the defenders. De Boer has outstanding ability from dead ball situations. Relied upon by the side to deliver the crucial pass to the defenders he has seen a move to Barcelona go bad after a foolish and arrogant strike to end his Ajax contract at the end of 1998 with his equally wrong headed brother. Injury problems mean his form this month could be patchy and he is not a certain pick for coach Rijkaard than Van Bronckhorst.

STRIKERS

PATRICK KLUIVERT

A large forward who can hold the ball up and is fast enough to finish in tight situations, Kluivert has seen his career at FC Barcelona hit peaks and troughs. He has helped the club to two Spanish championships but seen his team fail in Europe and last season saw him banned for abusing a referee and linesman.

A failure with AC Milan and the Italian defence has been boasting in the run up to the semi final that they know how to prevent Kluivert getting into games. This could prove true but his five goals - and almost four in one game against Yugoslavia - make him the top striker at Euro 2000 going into the Amsterdam showdown. Great touch and awareness in front of goal but Italian defenders will make life tough for him in the semi final.

DENNIS BERGKAMP

Neither midfielder or forward, Bergkamp is an unconventional player and frequently the master of his own game. The best volleying technique in Europe is matched only by his close control. He is a visionary passer when on form and can score with either foot. A strong runner with the ball and an underrated tackler and header he can play alongside the defender or from a deeper position. Holland knows that this is Bergkamp's time and their hopes for Euro 2000 rest a lot on this player's ability. He will quit the international game after the Euro finals and has not been in good form for Arsenal this season with persistent injury problems. A failure with Inter Milan so will have motivation to get back at Italian critics.

Euro 2000 has seen the authentic Bergkamp step back into the limelight and he has been an impressive and consistent front player. No modern star plays his free role in the attack quite like Bergkamp.

ROY MAKAAY

His goals have helped Deportivo La Coruna to the Spanish championship this season and this powerful front runner has made a good late case for inclusion in the Euro finals squad. No Dutch striker has enjoyed such domestic success this season and his good touch in front of goal can always create space and a chance. If he plays in the finals it is likely to be as a late substitute.

PIERRE VAN HOOIJDONK

More than thirty goals in Nottingham Forest's 1998 promotion season attracted interest from several clubs. He then took a knife to his English career by refusing to play for Forest in the Premiership claiming they were not good enough to survive. He eventually returned from strike in December to a feeling of hatred from fans and fellow players. He has major talents for shooting and heading and his free kicks are sometimes unstoppable. Arrogant on the pitch he took this side of his game too far. Thirty goals last season for Vitesse have earned the striker a move to Benfica next season but he seems no nearer Euro 2000 action.

PETER VAN VOSSEN

Van Vossen had an excellent season last year when Rotterdam club Feyenoord made the title race a procession but his form faded badly after the summer and he seemed to be out of contention for Euro 2000 for much of this season. Many will be surprised that coach Rijkaard has chosen his lighter touch ahead of the bullish Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who struck 24 goals in Spain's Liga this season. Even at his best Van Vossen scored only six times as Feyenoord dominated the Dutch game for a few brief months in spring 1999. Van Vossen looks like an ineffectual wide player when not in form but he may get the chance to fire crosses at Patrick Kluivert.

BOUDEWIJN ZENDEN

Bouwedijn Zenden is a fast attacking wide striker who is an average finisher. When on good form he can be very productive for his side as he can carry the ball well and has excellent control and balance. Zenden can be selfish and a bad crosser who is not strong in the air but his runs can easily confuse defenders and he has a hard shot. He has experience this season of playing left back for Barca.

Zenden has flourished at Euro 2000 with two goals and numerous good passes to help the attack. He is wanted by Fiorentina and the maturity now developing in his game makes him one of the stars of the tournament.