Dutch can ditch Swedes

IT’S going to take something special to beat Sweden, the great all-rounders of Euro 2004 to date.

The Netherlands, though, may be just the team to provide it in tonight’s quarter-final at the Algarve Stadium after finally stumbling upon their best team and the right tactics.

“Everyone in the Dutch team is relaxed now and we all know exactly what we’re doing,” said midfielder Philip Cocu after their great escape from Group D with a 3-0 win over Latvia.

“Sweden will be tough opponents but in the quarter-finals there are no easy opponents and they will be apprehensive about playing us as well.”

Sweden have excelled in every facet of the game in their three matches so far and are on course to emulate their run to the World Cup semi-finals in France in 1998. They showed brilliant attacking form to beat Bulgaria 5-0, incredible resilience to claim a 1-1 draw with Italy and then great heart to come from behind twice against Denmark and clinch top spot in Group C.

“Sweden have a strong team with a lot of physical power,” said Dutch winger Arjen Robben. “Their best quality can be found in their attack but for sure we will have a chance against them.”

The attacking guile comes from Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who have notched five goals between them so far.

The Dutch could hardly have started less impressively than Sweden, as they salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw against Germany.

Coach Dick Advocaat ditched their defensive formation and played two wingers with just one holding midfielder against the Czech Republic. They were unlucky to lose 3-2. The Dutch stuck with the system against Latvia and an assured performance has given them hope of emulating their 1988 European Championship success.

“All the teams remaining are capable of reaching the final and we certainly can,” said defender Jaap Stam.

Their only injury problem is central defender Wilfred Bouma but his replacement, Frank de Boer, performed well against Latvia and is likely to keep his place.

Sweden have a bigger worry in right-back Teddy Lucic, who has not fully recovered from a painful rib injury suffered in their opening game against Bulgaria.

Probable teams:

NETHERLANDS (4-3-3): van der Sar; Reiziger, de Boer, Stam, van Bronckhorst; Seedorf, Davids, Cocu; van der Meyde, van Nistelrooy, Robben

SWEDEN (4-4-2): Isaksson; Lucic (or Nilsson), Jakobsson, Hansson, Mellberg; Andersson, Kallstrom, Linderoth, Ljungberg; Ibrahimovic, Larsson.