Newslines: Dutch clear the air

Holland yesterday mounted a damage limitation exercise to insist their World Cup bid will not be undermined by a fall-out among the players.

After the final whistle in their win over Yugoslavia on Monday night, as jubilant team-mates flung themselves onto match-winner Edgar Davids, there was an amazing scene where keeper Edwin van der Sar appeared to swing a blow at defender Winston Bogarde in the midst of the celebrations.

However, yesterday Van der Sar dismissed the incident as an overreaction on his part. "We've talked it out," the goalkeeper said. "People are looking for something that is not there. It is being taken the wrong way by people."

He said the scuffle broke out after he was grabbed from behind by Pierre van Hooijdonk. Unable to breathe properly, he lashed out with his arms and caught Bogarde. Van der Sar added: "It was an overreaction by me."

Dutch captain Frank de Boer said the team had learned the lessons of Euro 96 and was not disturbed by the incident. "In the past this might have led to tension," he said. "But we are two years further and everyone is more adult."

There was, however, some bad news for Holland yesterday - defender Michael Reiziger may be out of the quarter-finals with a broken bone in his foot. Reiziger was injured in the first half of their 2-1 win over Yugoslavia, but played on until the end. Coach Guus Hiddink said: "I hope nothing is broken but I fear the worst."

Jurgen Kohler, the injured German defender, and midfielder Thomas Helmer, hope to be fit before their quarter-final match against Croatia on Saturday. Both players have injured calf muscles - Kohler strained his warming up before their second-round victory over Mexico while Helmer came off in the first half after picking up a knock.

Team-mate Lothar Matthaus has become the all-time leader in the number of World Cup minutes played with 1,958 - eight more minutes than Uwe Seeler, who played 1,950 minutes in 21 matches for West Germany in the 1960s and 1970s.

Saudi Arabia has appointed the German coach Otto Pfister to replace the Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira, who was sacked after the Saudis' dismal performances in the World Cup. Pfister, who has previously coached the Saudi Arabia, will be joined by Mohammed al-Kharashi as his assistant.