Live from Euro 2004
Potential 'Goalmine'
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| Sweden's striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2dR) scores a goal against Italy despite of Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (R), 18 June 2004, during their European Nations football championship match at the Dragao stadium in Porto. Italy and Sweden are competing in Group C with Bulgaria and Denmark. |
The Dutch and the Swedes contest the third Euro quarter-final in Faro on Saturday which promises to deliver a far more attractive match than Friday's grinding 1-0 victory for Greece over France.
A clutch of the continent's most explosive strikers will feature with Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Sweden and the swashbuckling Manchester United goal king Ruud van Nistelrooy acting as a lone marksman for Holland.
Sweden's' hopes of muzzling Van Nistelrooy have received a major boost with the return of experienced defender Teddy Lucic to their line-up, who is a veteran of two World Cups.
The 27-year-old's uncanny goal-scoring ability is a divine gift, Dutch coach Dick Advocaat suggested Friday.
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| Dutch forward Ruud Van Nistelrooij jubilates aftre his first goal, 23 June 2004 at Braga's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group D football match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
"Ruud is a natural goal scorer - he scores goals for whoever he's playing for. It's not something you learn - it's a gift from god."
Sweden coach Lars Lagerback feels there is danger throughout the Dutch side and would not have a special anti-Nistelrooy plan.
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| Swedish coach Lars Lagerbaeck gestures during a press conference in Villamoura on the Algarve coast in Portugal 25 June 2004. Sweden will play The Netherlands in the Euro 2004 quarter-final 26 June in Faro on the Algarve Coast. AFP PHOTO - SVEN NACKSTRAND |
"They've got good players in all positions, I wouldn't pick out one especially - you've got to respect them all at this level.
Advocaat was adamant his side would be in no need of divine gifts to play to their potential tonight.
"My team's progressing. You can see that from their performance in the second half of their opening game against Germany.
"In the second game they played quite well against the Czech Republic but still made some defensive errors. Then there was more progress against Latvia.
"We're still hoping to play three more games here, and improve more. We've come this far we'll try to go as far as possible."
Running his eye over Saturday's opposition the ex Rangers boss remarked: "The Swedish team work hard for each other, they're a real unit. The most important thing is they have three or four key players and the others work for them."
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| Sweden's striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic kicks tha ball ahead of Bulgarian defender Predrag Pazin , 14 June 2004 during their opening match of the European Nations football championships at the Jose de Alvalade stadium in Lisbon. Sweden and Bulgaria are competing in Group C with Italy and Denmark. |
One of those key players is inspirational striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the Netherlands veteran defender Frank de Boer for one is itching to take him.
"I think I can handle Zlatan. He's very good, he's got a lot of good technique, but I think I'm ready for him."
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| Sweden's striker Henrik Larsson celebrates after scoring a goal, 14 June 2004 at the Jose De Alvalade stadium in Lisbon during their opening football match at the European Nations championship. Sweden and Bulgaria are competing in Group C with Italy and Denmark. AFP PHOTO Dimitar DILKOFF |
Ibrahimovic's strike partner, former Celtic attacker Henrik Larsson, was also featuring prominently in the former Ranger player's thoughts.
"I played against him twice last season in Scotland. He's a great striker and is capable of scoring from every angle, but hopefully we can control him tomorrow."
Sweden defender Erik Edman is the only player suspended from the match