Dutch will treat Nedved with care

Czech Rep v Holland: The defeat they suffered at the hands of the Czechs in Prague might well have cost the Dutch their place at this tournament but it would be easy to be misled by the 3-1 scoreline achieved by Karel Brückner's side that night.

The Dutch actually played particularly well in the game but lost Edgar Davids early on as the midfielder's early attempt to rattle Pavel Nedved with a couple of fairly physical challenges quickly led to a booking and then dismissal.

Whether Dick Advocaat's side can contain the abundantly gifted Czech midfielder more effectively and at less cost this time remains one of the more intriguing questions ahead of this evening's game. Some small degree of unity does at least seem to have settled within the camp in the wake of the draw with Germany, though that could all change when the team is named as several changes are possible.

Clarence Seedorf's recovery from a hamstring problem has presented the Dutch coach, who came in for his usual hammering back at home after the German game, with another option while Arjen Robben says he has recovered from a similar injury although it appears Advocaat disagrees.

Almost certain to lose his place tonight is Boudewijn Zenden, whose selection for the opening game was a surprise. The winger failed to make any positive impact and is likely to be replaced by Wesley Sneijder, the 20-year-old Ajax midfielder who has proved reliable recently.

The tactics could also be changed, with Advocaat again reported to be toying with the idea of playing Patrick Kluivert alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy. Pierre van Hooijdonk's introduction on Tuesday suggests, however, he may get the nod if the coach opts to revert to 4-4-2.

The Czechs insist van Nistelrooy is the game's chief danger-man but Jan Koller is sure to prove a handful for a defence that looked none too impressive in the air against the Germans.

The huge Borussia Dortmund striker had to be given fluids intravenously after losing 11 pounds during the win over Latvia but he is expected to be fine again by kick-off time and play without the support of Milan Baros up front as Brückner takes a more cautious approach by adding an extra man to midfield.

Defender Rene Bolf has fallen ill and will not play, according to reports. The 30-year-old stopper did not travel with the team yesterday to Aveiro from their camp in Sintra after coming down with a fever. No further details were immediately available.

Brückner is likely to choose between defenders Tomas Huebschman and David Rozehnal to replace Bolf.

Another defender, Zdenek Grygera is likely to start despite leaving Thursday's training early. Hospital tests showed he had an infection in his salivary glands, but medication is curing the ailment.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

HOLLAND (4-3-2-1): van der Sar; Heitinga, Bouma, Stam, van Bronckhorst; Sneijder, Davids, Cocu; van der Meyde, van der Vaart; van Nistelrooy.

CZECH REPUBLIC (4-4-1-1): Cech; Grygera, Ujfalusi, Huebschman, Jankulovski; Galasek, Poborsky, Rosicky, Nedved; Baros; Koller

Referee: M E Mejuto (Spain).