Holland v Czech Republic - PREVIEW
Qualifying rivals meet again
The Czechs hold the psychological advantage over Holland ahead of their Group D clash on Saturday having pipped them to automatic qualifying last November on the back of a 1-1 draw and then a 3-1 victory over their rivals.
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| Netherlands' forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij (L) shakes hand with Germany's goalkeeper and captain Oliver Kahn, 15 June 2004 at Dragao stadium in Porto, at the end of their Euro 2004 group D football match at the European Nations in Portugal. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. AFP PHOTO / DDP Marcus BRANDT |
The Dutch were again slow starters in their 1-1 draw against Germany on Tuesday but managed to sneak a point thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy's late equaliser, and their coach Dick Advocaat wants his players to be quicker off the mark when they face the Czechs, who top the group after defeating Latvia.
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| German Fredi Bobic (L), who scored the 1-1 equalizer, tackles for the ball with Dutch player Jaap Stam during their international friendly soccer match 20 November 2002, in Gelsenkirchen. AFP PHOTO/EPA/DPA/ACHIM SCHEIDEMANN |
"We played much too slowly and nobody was prepared to take responsibility and try something inspirational," said Advocaat. "It was all so conservative and it was only after making some changes at half-time that things changed."
Dutch defender Jaap Stam said he was looking forward to facing Czech striker Jan Koller, after two monumental battles with the giant marksman in qualifying.
"I enjoy that kind of physical challenge," said the new AC Milan defender.
Baros smells quarter-finals
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| Czech republic forward Milan Baros (R) celebrates with Czech republic defender Marek Jankulovski after scoring against Latvia, 15 June 2004 during their opening match of the European Nations football championships at Aveiro's municipal stadium. The Czech Republic and Latvia are competing in Group D with Germany and The Netherlands.AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Czech striker Milan Baros, scorer of the Czechs' equaliser in their 2-1 win over Latvia, said his team will have to raise their game to outsmart the Dutch.
"With all due respect to Latvia, the Dutch will be a tougher proposition," said the Liverpool striker.
"The first step was to win our opening match and maybe one more win will see us get through the group."
The Dutch can welcome back AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf and Chelsea winger Arjen Robben after the pair declared themselves fit having recovered from hamstring strains.
Czech defender Zdenel Grygera is doubtful as he is suffering from an inflamed saliva gland.
Probable teams
Czech Republic: Petr Cech; Zdenek Grygera, Tomas Ujfalusi, Martin Jiranek, Marek Jankulovski; Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky, Tomas Galasek, Pavel Nedved (capt); Milan Baros, Jan Koller
Coach: Karel Bruckner
Holland: Edwin van der Sar; Johnny Heitinga, Jaap Stam, Wilfred Bouma, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Clarence Seedorf, Phillip Cocu (capt), Edgar Davids; Andy van der Meyde, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben
Coach: Dick Advovaat
Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (SPA)
Holland: Van der Sar - Heitinga, Stam, Bouma, Van Bronckhorst - Davids or Seedorf, Cocu - Van der Meyde, Sneijder, Van der Vaart - Van Nistelrooy
Coach: Dick Advocaat
Czech Republic: Cech - Grygera, Bolf, Ujfalusi, Jankulovski - Poborsky, Rosicky, Galasek or Smicer, Nedved - Koller, Baros or Heinz
Coach: Karel Bruckner
Referee: M. Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (SPA)