Advocaat on the way from zero to hero

DICK ADVOCAAT will allow himself a wry smile as he sets about the task of preparing for a Euro 2004 semi-final showdown with Portugal.

Advocaat's Holland side will meet the hosts in Lisbon on Wednesday with a place in the final up for grabs just a few days after they were once again being branded flops.

The Dutch coach was whistled onto the training pitch by fans at his side's Albufeira training camp following the 3-2 Group D defeat by the Czech Republic after he saw them surrender a 2-0 lead.