THE name Cruyff again looks set to grace soccer at the highest level as Holland meet fellow European Championship finalists Germany tonight in one of a spate of warm ups for the June finals.
At the same time, Yugoslavia - banned when they were about to take part in the last European finals in Sweden four years ago return to international competition in a 1998 World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands. And Icelandic father and son Arnor, 35, and Eidur Smari Gudjohnsen, a 17 year old with PSV Eindhoven, will make history when they play for their country together in a friendly against Estonia in Tallinn.
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink looks set to give Johan Cruyff's son Jordi the toughest of debuts in the Rotterdam game against Germany, particularly as Ajax Amsterdam striker Patrick Kluivert is unavailable through injury.
Johan Cruyff, now coach of Barcelona, said: "It happens often a player from my team is selected for a national side but now it is my son and I feel very proud."
The core of the Dutch side will be made up of Ajax players who are on the verge of a domestic league and European Cup double, while former striker Dennis Bergkamp, now with Arsenal in England, will lead the attack.
The match is a last chance for Werder Bremen midfielder Mario Basler to stake his claim for a central role in German coach Berti Vogts's European Championship plans.
Vogts has guaranteed Basler a full game in the pivotal playmaker's role normally occupied by Borussia Dortmund's Andreas Moeller, ruled out of the game with torn ligaments.
"I want to see Mario Basler over 90 minutes and to see where he stands at the moment," Vogts said. "For that reason alone the match is of special importance."
The Yugoslavs, suspended as part of international sanctions over the Balkans war, beat European Championship finalists Romania 1-0 in a recent friendly with a goal by 1990 World Cup veteran Dragan Stojkovic.
In the European group six qualifier, the Faroe Islanders should be no match for a side that can still count on some of the most skilled players in Europe despite the loss of wider choice through the dismemberment of the Yugoslav federation.
But coach Slobodan Santrac said: "Every international match should be taken very seriously, with every error likely to have dire consequences, especially against so called small teams."
Yugoslavia's suspension let in Denmark as last minute replacements in 1992 and they surprised everyone by going on to win the European title. The holders are at home to Scotland.
Brian Laudrup, who plays for Glasgow Rangers, said: "Scotland are excellent sparring partners for us . . . It is important for us to be able to gauge ourselves against another qualifier . .. Scotland could well prove dangerous in the finals, they are a very special team."
Spain, one of the four seeded finalists, again play Norway in only the second warm up possible amid a congested, over long Spanish league season. They beat the Norwegians 1-0 in February.
Coach Javier Clemente's team will be at full strength and boosted by the return to form of playmaker Jose Luis Caminero, who inspired Atletico Madrid in last Saturday's crucial first division victory at Barcelona.
Former Yugoslav republics Macedonia and Slovenia open their first World Cup qualifying campaigns. Macedonia are at home to Liechtenstein in group eight, while Slovenia visit Greece.
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