Dutch rock

Dutch Philip Cocu (C) scores against Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Manniger during their Euro 2004 qualification soccer match in Vienna, 16 October 2002. At right Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert. AFP PHOTO/EPA/APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT

Veteran midfielder Phillip Cocu provides a steadying influence at both club and national level as his experience and reliabilty are crucial to the ambitions of his sides.

Barcelona Dutch Phillip Cocu jubilates after scoring against Besiktas Istanbul in a Champions League Group H match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona 08 November 2000.

He is often captain of Holland a tribute to his influence and leadership and is also a key figure at the Nou Camp stadium where he has been a regular at Barcelona since 1998.

Capable of playing in almost every position on the pitch, his career began its first steady steps as an 18-year-old playing for unfashionable second division side AZ Alkmaar where he spent two seasons before a switch to top flight Vitesse Arnhem.

He won no major honours in the first seven years of his career but a key move to PSV Eindhoven in 1995 earned him the Dutch Cup in his first campaign before landing the domestic championship one year later in 1997.

Compatriot Louis van Gaal was at the helm of Barcelona and saw Cocu as the ideal man to shore up his midfield and a free transfer in accordance with the Bosman ruling made him an even more attractive signing.

World Cup run

He made his debut for Holland in 1996 in the 1-0 defeat to arch rivals Germany and has been an ever present for the 'Orange' ever since.

Dutch midfielder Phillip Cocu (L) reacts with team-mates Clarence Seedorf (#10), Frank de Boer (#4) and Patrick Kluivert (#9) after he missed his penalty shot during the penalty shoot-out of the 1998 Soccer World Cup semi-final match between Brazil and the Netherlands 07 July at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Defending champion Brazil won 4-2 on penalties to play either France or Coatia in the World Cup final at Stade de France in Saint-Denis 12 July. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO

In 1998, he played in all seven matches of Holland's World Cup campaign and even scored two goals as they reached the semi-finals only to be cruelly beaten by Brazil on penalties, a shootout in which Cocu crucially missed his spot-kick.

He put that disappointment behind him to help Barcelona to the Spanish title in 1999 and then turned his attentions to Euro 2000 when Holland played co-hosts along with Belgium.

Italian Fabio Cannavaro (L) goes for a header against Dutch Philip Cocu (R) in front of the goals during the Euro 2000 semi-final soccer match Italy vs The Netherlands 29 June 2000, in Amsterdam. AFP PHOTO/FILIPPO MONTEFORTE (ELECTRONIC IMAGE)

However after a smooth run to the semi-finals, Holland came unstuck against Italy during match in which they missed two penalties in regulation and then three more spotkicks in the shootout. Cocu had been substituted in extra-time.

He is currently in a spell with club and country that has failed to produce a trophy since 1999, and it was a major disappointment for fans of the Dutch that they failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup as group rivals Ireland and Portugal proved too tough.

Now Cocu can look forward to probably his last crack at an major international title after helping Holland scrape into the final stages of Euro 2004 albeit via the play-offs where they crushed Scotland 6-1.