Hard to call as youth meets experience

Portugal v Netherlands: On paper at least, this looks like the most evenly balanced of all the eight second round games. This is not only a clash between two of Europe's traditional power houses but also a tie between two sides whose first round form was more than adequate.

In winning three out of three against Angola, Iran and Mexico, Portugal may not have earned themselves Argentina-sized headlines but they nonetheless did the business. Which is exactly what you would expect of a battle-hardened side who were runners-up at Euro 2004, who are coached by the man who won four years ago and which rotates around experienced players like Deco of Barcelona and Figo of Inter Milan.

Not mind you that there was much wrong with Holland's first round form, beating both Serbia and Montenegro and the Ivory Coast before that all too predictable 0-0 draw with Argentina. Nor was there much wrong with the form shown by such as the flying wingers Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie.

In many senses, this looks like a clash between Dutch youth and Portuguese experience and between two temperamentally very different coaches, Marco Van Basten of Holland and Portugal's Felipe Scolari. Van Basten, at the beginning of his coaching career, has put his faith in youth and the traditional virtues of the Dutch attacking game. He has always maintained that he is building a side for the future and that anything which comes his way in the meantime will be a bonus.

Scolari, in contrast, has done it all before, winning with Brazil last time. Tough, with a reputation for stern discipline, he is infamous for his oft-repeated remark that "coming second is like coming last". Since winning in South Korea and Japan, Scolari, of course, moved on to take Portugal to the Euro 2004 final. For him and for many of his squad, this could be the last stop prior to a process of wholescale renovation.

Van Basten has been making curious noises about Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy even hinting that he may drop him in favour of Feyenoord forward Dirk Kuijk. Such talk may be Van Basten's way of sparking all the Van Nistelrooy cylinders into life. Certainly, this hardly seems the moment to offload a player of the quality of Van Nistelrooy.

There is, of course, important recent history between these two sides with Portugal having eliminated Holland at the semi-final stage of Euro 2004. Portuguese midfielder Maniche, scorer of a goal in that 2-1 win, said yesterday that Euro 2004 will have no bearing on tomorrow's game, largely because the new-look, Van Basten coached Holland bears little resemblance to Dick Advocaat's team of two years ago: "I am absolutely certain that we are going to beat this great opponent Holland. We want to stay on a bit longer in these finals. But the statistics tell you nothing. This is a totally different game (from 2004). It is going to be very difficult. Holland have excellent players, but so do we."

Both sides should be at full strength with Pauleta leading the Portugese attack, supported by the three man attacking midfield of Ronaldo, Figo and Simao. Holland despite Van Basten's bluffing, are likely to line up with wingers Van Persie and Robben flanking Van Nistelrooy. Stand by for fireworks.

Portugal (4-2-3-1)

Ricardo; Miguel, Ferreira, Carvalho, Valente; Tiago, Petit; Ronaldo, Figo, Simao; Pauleta

Netherlands (4-3-3)

Van Der Saar; Mathijsen, Heitinga, Ooljer, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, Cocu, Sneijder; Van Persie, Van Nistelrooy, Robben