Favourites lock horns in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM, JUNE 20. The eagerly-awaited Euro 2000 clash between World champion France and many people's favourite Holland, hungry for success on home soil, finally arrives at the Amsterdam arena.

A Dutch victory would not only satisfy its hordes of fans but means it stays in the country for Sunday's quarterfinal at Rotterdam against the second-placed team in the wide-open Group C. Should Holland only draw with France, it would finish second and will have to go to Bruges, Belgium on Sunday and meet the Group C winner.

It will also be a chance for either side to gain a psychological boost ahead of what many are predicting will be a France- Netherlands final on July 2 also in Rotterdam.

Dutch coach Frank Rijkaard, who has midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst suspended after getting two yellow cards, is considering resting several players already on a caution.

Skipper Frank de Boer, Bert Konterman, Edwin van der Sar and Michael Reiziger are all on yellow cards and will miss the quarterfinal if they are booked in the game against France. All yellow cards will be eradicated after the group stages however.

Rijkaard also has injury problems with doubts about the fitness of Michael Reiziger, Jaap Stam, Marc Overmars and Clarence Seedorf. Reiziger is suffering with an ankle injury, Stam has a groin strain, Overmars a sore calf and Seedorf a twisted knee.

France has injury worries however. Emmanuel Petit, Bixente Lizarazu and David Trezeguet are under treatment after picking up strains but goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has shrugged off a buttock muscle injury.

- AFP

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Section  : Sport
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