Dutch to revenge on Portugal
25/6/2006 10:49
Holland vow to take a revenge on Portugal as the two European heavyweights
face off each other at a World Cup round of 16 clash in Nuremberg today, though
the history is against the Netherlands.
The Dutch side has failed to beat
Portugal for 15 years since 1991, winning only once in all of nine previous
meetings.
Two years ago they were crashed out of the 2004 European
Championships by a semifinal defeat in Lisbon to the Portuguese with goals from
Cristiano Ronaldo and Maniche.
Previously, Portugal ruled out a World Cup
2002 berth of the Netherlands by beating them in an away match and drawing at
home.
But history will count for nothing when the two sides square up in
Nuremberg.
Marco Van Basten's team have lost just one of their last 24 games
in all competitions after the former markman took over from Dick
Advocaat.
They go into Sunday's game of World Cup last 16 with having
conceded only one goal from the "Group of Death" and only dropping points with
the draw against Argentina.
"I would rate it as a 50-50 game," said Van
Basten, who is certainly expecting a very tough match as the sides battle to
book a quarter-final meeting with either England or Ecuador.
"We both play
with similar styles and we have both done well in the group stage," he added. "I
don't think you could say who was going to win with any certainty. It really is
in the balance."
Van Basten may opt to play Dirk Kuyt in place of Ruud van
Nistelrooy up front, after the Manchester United player started the tournament
as first choice but scored only once at the Cote d'Ivoire match.
"The central
position up front is a point of discussion and the chance that Dirk (Kuijt) will
start on Sunday has increased," said Van Basten ahead of Sunday's
match.
"Ruud will understand that if you play well you will not be
substituted," he said.
United manager Alex Ferguson dropped Van Nistelrooy
late in last season, but the Dutch coach had backed him up despite his positions
in the club.
Meanwhile, Van Basten looks set to recall Arjen Robben, Mark van
Bommel, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Johnny Heitinga to the starting line-up
after resting them against Argentina.
Portugal, led by the World Cup winning
coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, also comfortably came through their group, winning
all three games and conceding just one goal, to fellow qualifiers Mexico,
despite resting five of their top players.
Scolari, who record a 10-match
World Cup winning streak after Portugal's three victories in the group round
plus to seven as he led his native Brazil to the title in 2002, will look to
Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo to cause problems for the Dutch defence as he
looks to take his side to the quarter finals.
The five players he rested in
the victory over Mexico, including Pauleta, Deco, Ronaldo, Costinha and Nuno
Valente all set to be recalled into the start list.
Xinhua
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