Frank Rijkaard's popularity grows with each passing day. After the opening win over the Czech Republic, 77 per cent of Dutch fans believed he was the right man to steer Holland to Euro 2000 glory.

Since beating France, the coach's popularity has risen to such an extent that 94 per cent now believe he is the right man for the job.

That percentage is likely to rise still more if the 37 year-old can mastermind a win over flamboyant Yugoslavia in Rotterdam on Sunday to take Holland into the semi-finals.

There had been scepticism in Holland that he could do that job after an unimpressive build-up campaign but Rijkaard has always maintained that his team should not be judged on friendly matches and solely on their performance in the tournament.

The serious stuff starts now and the expectation on the national side has never been higher as they prepare to face Yugoslavia.

It is not a game the Dutch are treating lightly in spite of the fact that the Yugoslavians only squeezed through Group C ahead of Norway.

Rijkaard knows the Yugoslavs are capable of anything, given that they have been involved in the two highest-scoring games in the tournament so far.

Vujadin Boskov's side came from 3-0 down to draw with Slovenia in their opening game after scoring three times in a six-minute burst and then leaked two goals in injury-time to lose a thriller with Spain 4-3 in their final group match.

It is this lack of discipline in defence that is perhaps the key to this quarter-final tie with the Dutch having delivered strong second-half performances in their last couple of matches with Denmark and France.

"The Yugoslavs are very talented and are very been impressive so far. But we have also been impressive and I think we have the qualities to beat them," said Dutch captain Frank de Boer.

"I don't think they have a good defence and that will give us the chance to beat them."

De Boer's comments are based on the fact that only the disappointing Denmark conceded more goals that the Yugoslavs in the group stages and losing seven goals in three matches suggests the 69 year-old Boskov has some tinkering to do with his defence.

Holland's credentials have been called into question by no less a figure than Johan Cruyff but his critical comments on national television will mean that the Dutch players will want to make his eat his words.

There has also been talk in some quarters that the win over a weakened France was not the significant result that many believed.

"It was a good thing for us as we had not beaten France for 19 years," pointed out striker Patrick Kluivert.

"Everybody has been saying that it was a "B" squad we faced but I don't think France have a "B" squad. I thought we played well and deserved to win."

Kluivert will expect to cash in if the Yugoslavs continue to show this cavalier defensive approach and his goals against Denmark and France suggest he has recovered his goalscoring instinct.

But the Yugoslavs have already demonstrated their own presence in front of goal with Savo Milosevic currently top of the goalscoring charts with four goals.

If he failed to win over the Aston Villa fans during his time in the Premiership, he has struck a rich seam of goals in Spain with Zaragoza and, at international level, averages a goal every two games.

The Dutch themselves - after two clean sheets - showed they are prone to the odd defensive lapses themselves against France and they will not want to get involved in a goal-trading exercise similar to what Spain had to endure and will want to keep a tighter rein on things.

It promises to be a fascinating encounter with two coaches at the different ends of the spectrum.

Rijkaard still has it all to prove in spite of the backing he has now won at home but the wily Boskov, at 69 the oldest coach in the tournament, has served his time and coached Ajax, Feyenoord, Real Madrid and Sampdoria amongst others and has a top coaching reputation.

Euro 2000 offers him the first chance to show what he can do in a major international arena and nothing the Dutch will do on Sunday will come as a surprise to him.

Having missed out on the last two European Championships because of politics, Boskov and Yugoslavia want to go all the way this time and are not content just to make up the numbers in the last eight.

But the Dutch are powerful in Rotterdam and, backed by their tremendous fans, expect to take the semi-final berth. If they get through, it will mean a trip across the border to Brussels for a semi-final.

However, that will be seen as a minor inconvenience by Frank Rijkaard and his team who have been given an extra incentive to take another step closer to the title by the critical words of Cruyff.