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Euro 2000 enters the semi-final stage |
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June 29, 2000 AMSTERDAM
(AP) - The Italians have already exceeded expectations
ahead of Thursday's semifinal. The Dutch still have mountain to climb
since only the Euro 2000 title will do.
Favored
for the title heading into the tournament, the Netherlands were slow to
start in their opening round and only lived up
to their potential in their 6-1 quarterfinal win over the Yugoslavs. But
before they can fulfill the dream of a whole nation, the Dutch will first
have to get past a crafty Italian side.
While
Italian supporters were braced for disappointment after a lackluster
buildup to the championships, Dino Zoff's team has proven once again Italy
can never be counted out.
The
Azzurri, who had arrived at the tournament weakened by injury and
drained by a laborious qualifying campaign, had not been expected to get
very far. But traveling unbeaten through its first four
matches, the Italian side has proven a tough nut to crack.
"Italy
will be totally different to Yugoslavia," said Dutch coach
Frank Rijkaard, whose years at AC Milan have given him considerable
insight into the Italian game. "There won't be seven goals.
"The
Italians are experts at defending and are getting better with
every match. I think it will be a very tight, very tense match," he
continued. "Italian players know how to plan for the big events and
they won't be put off by a stadium full of hostile fans. They are used to
all the tifosi and the whole culture of Italian soccer is geared towards
performing for the big matches."
The
two sides could hardly be more different in their approach to soccer.
The
Dutch, who have an expansive, attacking style game, realize that
against the Yugoslavs they were given ample space to create scoring
opportunity.
They
know the Italians won't be so considerate.
With
the tightest defense in the championships, allowing only two goals
in four matches, the Azzurri reached the semifinals undefeated with four
functional but bland performances.
Smothering
any movement within its defensive zone, the Italian side
is also particularly cunning in the counterattack, timing its strikes with
deadly accuracy.
"They've
got great players, there's no doubt about it, but the way
they play is kind of risky, if you ask me," said Italy captain Paolo
Maldini. "I'm sure it's a calculated risk, but against a team like
Italy they'll have to watch out.
"We
have to stop Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, and of course Patrick
Kluivert. But we Italians are masters at that, at not giving our opponents
any space."
Although
the side is not getting the flashy kind of headlines the Netherlands
are, they do have the talent to rival the Dutch team.
If
the co-hosts can boast hat-trick hero Kluivert - who scored his
threesome in the victory over Yugoslavia on Sunday - as well as shadow
striker Bergkamp, and the fiery Edgar Davids, up front the Italians have
Filippo Inzaghi and creative striking proxy Francesco Totti, who have
grown as a strike paring in the championships.
Their
midfield and defense have proven equally strong.
Alessandro
Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and captain Maldini form a flexible
and athletic core that has largely controlled Italy's four games. And
goaltender Francesco Toldo has so far lived up to the high
standards that mentor Zoff - an Italian legend in goal - had set when he
played goal for Italy.
Zoff's
number one mission is to stop Patrick Kluivert. And the man
to mark him will no doubt be Nesta, one of the defensive standouts of the
tournament.
A
versatile player who is comfortable moving out of defense and able
to ward off threats from the flanks and the center, Nesta is perfect for
the job.
"They
don't have any weak links," the center back said. "It's the
individual mistakes that will make the difference.
"Kluivert
is good and he's scored a lot of goals but Bergkamp is tough,
too. He's scored fewer goals but he creates chances for the others."
When
the Italians' defensive style comes up against the Netherlands'
attacking game, history seems to lean in favor of Italy.
In
13 international matches, the Italians have won six, while the Netherlands
have won only two, and while both sides have each won the European
Championships once, Italy has won three World Cups and the Dutch none.
"Our
strength is our patience - we have a great history behind us
and all the teams hope they won't come up against Italy," Nesta said.
Both
teams have had their own injury headaches ahead of Sunday's match.
Rijkaard
has lost both defender Arthur Numan and forward Roy Makaay
for the remainder of the tournament. Numan was ruled out because of a
right foot injury and will not recover in time if the Netherlands
reaches Sunday's final. Makaay tore ligaments in his right ankle during
evening training Tuesday and is expected to be out of action for up to
eight weeks after surgery.
Juventus
midfielder Antonio Conte is out action after tearing ankle
ligaments in Italy's quarterfinal defeat of Romania. He will almost
certainly be replaced by Luigi Di Biagio, who will start alongside
AC Milan's Demetrio Albertini.
Expected
lineups :
Italy
- Francesco Toldo; Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Mark Iuiliano,
Paolo Maldini; Gianluca Zambrotta, Demetrio Albertini, Luigi Di Biagio,
Stefano Fiore; Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi.
Netherlands
- Edwin van der Sar; Paul Bosvelt, Jaap Stam, Frank de
Boer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Marc Overmars, Edgar Davids, Philip Cocu,
Boudewijn Zenden; Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp.
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