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Different expectations Dutch yet to fulfill predictions, Italians overachieve
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2000 01:03 AM
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- The Italians have already exceeded expectations ahead of Thursday's semifinal. The Dutch still have a mountain to climb since only the Euro 2000 title will do. Favored for the title heading into the tournament, the Netherlands were slow to start in their opening round and only lived up to their potential in their 6-1 quarterfinal win over the Yugoslavs. But before they can fulfill the dream of a whole nation, the Dutch will first have to get past a crafty Italian side. While Italian supporters were braced for disappointment after a lackluster buildup to the championships, Dino Zoff's team has proven once again Italy can never be counted out. The Azzurri, who had arrived at the tournament weakened by injury and drained by a laborious qualifying campaign, had not been expected to get very far. But traveling unbeaten through its first four matches, the Italian side has proven a tough nut to crack. "No one expected to come this far, no one gave us any credit at all," Zoff said Wednesday evening after the team's final workout. "Now we're in the semifinals, and we'll need a great match to win." Zoff's counterpart, Frank Rijkaard, whose years at AC Milan have given him considerable insight into the Italian game, knows his Dutch team's quarterfinal trouncing should not be used as a barometer for Thursday's match. "Italy will be totally different to Yugoslavia,' he said. 'There won't be seven goals. "The Italians are experts at defending and are getting better with every match. I think it will be a very tight, very tense match," he continued. "Italian players know how to plan for the big events and they won't be put off by a stadium full of hostile fans. They are used to all the tifosi [fans] and the whole culture of Italian soccer is geared towards performing for the big matches." The two sides could hardly be more different in their approach to soccer. The Dutch, who have an expansive, attacking style game, realize that against the Yugoslavs they were given ample space to create scoring opportunity. They know the Italians won't be so considerate. With the tightest defense in the championships, allowing only two goals in four matches, the Azzurri reached the semifinals undefeated with four functional but bland performances. Smothering any movement within its defensive zone, the Italian side is also particularly cunning in the counterattack, timing its strikes with deadly accuracy. "They've got great players, there's no doubt about it, but the way they play is kind of risky, if you ask me," said Italy captain Paolo Maldini. "I'm sure it's a calculated risk, but against a team like Italy they'll have to watch out. "We have to stop Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, and of course Patrick Kluivert. But we Italians are masters at that, at not giving our opponents any space." Although the side is not getting the flashy kind of headlines the Netherlands are, they do have the talent to rival the Dutch team. If the co-hosts can boast hat-trick hero Kluivert -- who scored his threesome in the victory over Yugoslavia on Sunday -- as well as shadow striker Bergkamp, and the fiery Edgar Davids, up front the Italians have Filippo Inzaghi and creative striking proxy Francesco Totti, who have grown as a strike paring in the championships. Their midfield and defense have proven equally strong. Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro and captain Maldini form a flexible and athletic core that has largely controlled Italy's four games. And goaltender Francesco Toldo has so far lived up to the high standards that mentor Zoff -- an Italian legend in goal -- had set when he played goal for Italy. Zoff's number one mission is to stop Patrick Kluivert. And the man to mark him will no doubt be Nesta, one of the defensive standouts of the tournament. A versatile player who is comfortable moving out of defense and able to ward off threats from the flanks and the center, Nesta is perfect for the job. "They don't have any weak links," the center back said. "It's the individual mistakes that will make the difference. "Kluivert is good and he's scored a lot of goals but Bergkamp is tough, too. He's scored fewer goals but he creates chances for the others." When the Italians' defensive style comes up against the Netherlands' attacking game, history seems to lean in favor of Italy. In 13 international matches, the Italians have won six, while the Netherlands have won only two, and while both sides have each won the European Championships once, Italy has won three World Cups and the Dutch none. "Our strength is our patience -- we have a great history behind us and all the teams hope they won't come up against Italy," Nesta said. Both teams have had their own injury headaches ahead of Sunday's match. Rijkaard has lost both defender Arthur Numan and forward Roy Makaay for the remainder of the tournament. Numan was ruled out because of a right foot injury and will not recover in time if the Netherlands reaches Sunday's final. Makaay tore ligaments in his right ankle during evening training Tuesday and is expected to be out of action for up to eight weeks after surgery. Juventus midfielder Antonio Conte is out action after tearing ankle ligaments in Italy's quarterfinal defeat of Romania. He will almost certainly be replaced by Luigi Di Biagio, who will start alongside AC Milan's Demetrio Albertini. Expected lineups : Italy - Francesco Toldo; Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Mark Iuiliano, Paolo Maldini; Gianluca Zambrotta, Demetrio Albertini, Luigi Di Biagio, Stefano Fiore; Francesco Totti, Filippo Inzaghi. Netherlands - Edwin van der Sar; Paul Bosvelt, Jaap Stam, Frank de Boer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Marc Overmars, Edgar Davids, Philip Cocu, Boudewijn Zenden; Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp.
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