Euro 2000 semi final - Holland v Italy Preview

Euro 2000 reaches another peak today as co hosts Holland try to thrill their Amsterdam fans with a place in the final against France.

Standing in their way is Dino Zoff's Italy who are arguably the team best equipped to overcome the Dutch attacking principles that have made them top scorers at the Euro finals.

The winners play in the final on Sunday in Rotterdam and Holland are heavy favourites to reach the championship decider.

However Italy have looked compact and able to counter attack well and Zoff's team will be prepared to absorb the heavy pressure that Holland will put them under.

The Dutch are still breathing the rarified air of a 6-1 slaughter of a poor Yugoslavia team in the quarter final on Sunday while Italy have enjoyed an extra day of rest. Holland have ruled defender Artur Numan and striker Roy Makkay out of Euro 2000 with injuries while Italy have suffered the loss of midfielder Antonio Conte but inspirational captain Paolo Maldini has survived fitness tests on a thigh strain and definitely starts.

Conte's place will be taken by Inter Milan player Luigi Di Biagio and his clashes with Edgar Davids could prove decisive in the battle for midfield. Davids has been dominating teams with his hard tackling and running but Di Biagio will not be told by Zoff to create chances. Instead he will sit in front of the defence and break up attacks which will bring him into direct conflict with Davids.

Their battle with be hard and physical with Philip Cocu also in the centre of the team to help Davids. Italy may well outnumber Holland at times in midfield but Zoff will not be playing an adventurous game.

Zambrotta, Demetrio Albertini and Stefano Fiore will all be on defensive duty and Italy try to suppress the rhythm and style of the Dutch team.

Holland will rely on their pass and move tactics but Italy are certain to defend better than Yugoslavia managed.

Italy will be reluctant to let Patrick Kluivert strike at goal through the middle and Yugoslavia conceded two goals with attacks into the heart of their defence. Fabian Cannavaro will perhaps man mark Kluivert - who is the top scorer at Euro 2000 with five goals - and the Dutch forward knows Italian defending crippled his attacking style when he spent a miserable season with AC Milan three years ago.

Kluivert has something to prove to Italian critics as has striker partner Dennis Bergkamp but Cannavaro has spoken confidently of Italy's ability to remove Kluivert as a threat from the match. It will be harder to deal with Dennis Bergkamp whose free role gives him space and time. The Arsenal player also came to grief amid Italian defences in his three seasons with Inter and he will be pressurised by the Italian midfield.

A lot of work for Italy's midfield needs to be done before the away team can even think of parity with their free scoring hosts but in Francesco Totti and Filippo Inzaghi the outsiders have two decent attackers of their own to test the Dutch defence.

Holland's back line will be led by Jaap Stam who saw Inzaghi score two goals in a Champions League tie against Manchester United for Juventus eighteen months ago. The home team have not been attacked hard by the opposition since the Czech Republic dominated them in Amsterdam on the second day of the tournament. Whether Italy can get that sort of momentum going when the Dutch have their passing game working well is open to debate but Italy are well equipped to disrupt the Dutch possession and play solely for the result.

They will wait until they can get their chance with Inzaghi ready to either be hailed as a hero or condemned again for missing too many chances for a top striker at this level.

Today will see a real test for Frank De Boer and Jaap Stam in the centre of defence and Italy see the pair as a definite weakness. If Italy can block Kluivert and Bergkamp then they have the tactics to win.

Half Time score - 0-0

Full Time score - Italy 1 Holland 0

First scorer - Filippo Inzaghi

Number of corners - 9