Mind games do the trick for Dutch

BERNE, Switzerland: France and Italy's attempts to goad Holland into taking its match against Romania seriously appear to have done the trick.

Almost as soon as the second round of matches in group C were completed, players and officials from the French and Italian camps started suggesting that the already-qualified Dutch would be quite happy to lose its final match to ensure Romania join it in the quarterfinals and that two more dangerous rivals are eliminated.

The result? Everyone in the Dutch camp has turned Oranje-faced in indignation and players like Robin van Persie go into Tuesday's match convinced they have something to prove to the world about their personal integrity.

"I can't even bear losing at ping-pong," the Arsenal forward declared bullishly, while his teammate Khalid Boulahrouz underlined the importance of delivering a performance for the tens of thousands of Dutch supporters who have set up camp in and around the Swiss capital.

"It has been like playing at home and we can't let those fans down," said the defender.

Dutch coach Marco van Basten has confirmed that a number of the players who ripped the Italians and French apart will be rested, but insists that does not mean he is taking the final match lightly.

"Every match is important to us and the fact there will be some changes in the team does not alter anything," he said.

Ajax defender Andre Ooijer and Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong are certain to sit out the Romania game as one more yellow card would rule either of them out of the quarterfinal, while Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben is expected to start for the first time in the tournament.

Ajax striker Klas-Jan Huntelaar is expected to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy up front with van Persie playing in a more withdrawn role than he occupies for Arsenal.

PSV Eindhoven's Ibrahim Afellay is also tipped for promotion into the attacking midfield trident behind the lone forward with Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart expected to be rested.

Romania must beat the Dutch to be sure of going through but could also squeeze into the last eight if France and Italy's replay of the 2006 World Cup final ends in a stalemate.

A win for the Dutch will allow France or Italy a reprieve if they win their match and the form displayed by van Basten's men in their two opening matches suggests that is the most likely outcome.

The Romanians, however, are a resilient outfit and were by no means fortunate to hold both the French and the Italians to goalless and 1-1 draws, respectively, in their opening matches.

If Adrian Mutu had managed to convert a late penalty, they would have beaten Italy and their captain Cristian Chivu, who made his name at Ajax, believes his side can repeat their defeat of the Dutch during qualifying.

"This is a special moment for us now," said the midfielder. "We have the chance to reach the quarterfinals and we're going to give everything for 90 minutes to do that."

AFP

(China Daily 06/17/2008 page22)