The Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp, who had looked likely to miss Holland's first two World Cup ties at least, has been passed fit for their opener against Belgium in Paris tomorrow.
The 29-year-old English Footballer of the Year, recovering from a six-week-old hamstring injury, trained with the Dutch squad in Versailles yesterday and expects to play some part in the Group E match at the Stade de France.
"I do not feel any pain any more," he said. "I don't think I can play a full game yet. Maybe I could come on in the second half."
Holland's captain and central defender Frank De Boer, however, managed only light training after twisting his left ankle while playing at Ajax's stadium on Monday.
The Belgium team are not without surprises as the coach, Georges Leekens, yesterday left the veteran midfielder Enzo Scifo out of the team, only weeks after talking the 32-year-old midfielder into joining the squad. "We have to take the fight to Holland," he said.
Nigeria have asked FIFA for a minute's silence before their Group D match against Spain in Nantes tomorrow. They also want to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for their military ruler Sani Abacha, who died on Monday.
The African Player of the Year Victor Ikpeba added to the melancholy within the Nigeria camp yesterday when he announced he might quit the team after the World Cup. The Monaco striker is unhappy at being repeatedly left out.
Germany's midfielder Steffen Freund has been ruled out for at least 10 days after tearing a calf muscle in his right leg in training.
Meanwhile, a punter is set to pick up £220,000 if Bulgaria beat Paraguay in their Group C game today after staking £100,000, the first sixfigure bet on a single France 98 match. The bet has been struck at odds of 6 to 5 with William Hill.
Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Chilavert, who takes his team's penalties and free-kicks, has been backed at 1000 to 1 to be the tournament's top scorer.
Ladbrokes and William Hill have lengthened Italy's World Cup odds to 9 to 1 from 7 to 1 and 8s respectively following yesterday's 2-2 draw with Chile. Hill's have cut the South Americans to 40 to 1 from 66 to 1.
