Dutch to play strongest side

Holland coach Marco van Basten will parade his strongest starting line-up when Australia visit De Kuip stadium for a World Cup warm-up match tomorrow.

Van Basten will field a side that is likely to start the Group C opener with Serbia and Montenegro on June 11.

Meanwhile, PSV Eindhoven midfielder Phillip Cocu has a “good feeling” about the Dutch side that are preparing to showcase their talents in Germany and insists that is all down to Van Basten and his assistant John van‘t Schip.

Cocu, who has just penned a new one-year contract with PSV, said: “Part of my good feeling about this team is the communication between the coach and players, and among the players.

“We talk a lot together when we eat and in the medical room. Topics are not Gameboys and MP3s.

“The way this group has grown is directly down to these coaches. Where it will take this squad is hard to say, even for me.

“For the first time with these coaches, we can work together for three weeks in a row. We’ll see how it goes when the tournament starts.”

Chelsea winger Arjen Robben agreed that team spirit was excellent in the Dutch squad and insists that is helping take the pressure off the players ahead of the tournament.

Robben said: “Fun can be a good thing for this group. The atmosphere is fantastic. We work hard but we also have lots of fun. The closer we get to the tournament, it can take away a lot of the pressure.”