FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°42

Mexico’s prospects of standing up to rampant Holland here on Thursday have been dealt a severe blow by the likely absence of their ” Matador ” striker Luis Hernandez.The blond forward, who scored twice in the opening 3-1 defeat of South Korea, has struggled to shake off an ankle injury incurred during Mexico’s stirring fightback to draw 2-2 with Belgium and was expected to sit out Thursday’s crucial group E clash. With or without their Matador, all the odds must be on the Mexicans being trampled on by a Dutch side that coolly took the Koreans to the cleaners on Saturday.

Holland’s 5-0 win means a draw will probably be good enough for them to top the group, which is most likely to leave them with a second round match against Yugoslavia. But Guus Hiddink’s squad will also be aware that defeat is likely to see them on the first high-speed train back home.

Mexican coach Manuel Lapuente has vowed that his side will not be overawed by the Dutch. ” We will not sit back and defend because that is not a very clever way of playing, particularly against a Dutch side packed with attacking players, “ he said. ” We don’t have to necessarily win but we mustn’t rely on the South Koreans doing us a favour, “ he added.

If Hernandez does not make it he is most likely to be replaced by the veteran forward Ricardo Palaez. Lapuente will also have to do without defender Pavel Pardo, suspended after being sent off against Belgium.  Salvador Carmona is the most likely replacement.

The Dutch will be again without Patrick Kluivert, serving the second match of a ban imposed for striking Belgium’s Lorenzo Staelens in the bruising 0-0 opener. But with Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp getting back close to full fitness, Kluivert was not missed against South Korea and may struggle to get back in the side.

The Dutch may also be without experienced midfielder Wim Jonk, whose speculative long range shot was infamously turned into his own net by goalkeeper Packy Bonner thus ending the Republic of Ireland’s interest in the 1994 finals, as he wants to return to Holland for the funeral of his best friend, who was killed in a car crash.

With the Dutch aware that defeat is likely to see them out of the tournament, the clash with Mexico will be a tough test of whether they possess the nerve to match their billing as potential World Cup winners. Dragan Stoijkovic, the captain of Yugoslavia, who the Dutch could well end up meeting in the second round, rates Holland the best team so far in France 98.

Hiddink’s squad have also been given the stamp of approval by Johan Cruyff, the star of the great Ajax and Dutch national sides of the early 1970’s. ” They have some very good individual players and are playing a good passing game, most importantly at pace, “ he said.

Cruyff believes the current crop of players is good enough to emulate Holland’s 1974 and 1978 runs to the final, although he still sees Brazil as the most likely winners. Crucially for the Dutch, there have been no signs here of the internal squabbling that has handicapped their campaigns at the last two World Cups. ” That is normally our main opponent but here the team spirit is very good, “ said Arsenal winger Marc Overmars.

Holland had the players to win the 1990 World Cup but Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten’s attempts to impose their choice of players on coach Leo van Beenhakker destroyed team morale. Preparations for USA 94 were torpedoed by Gullit’s late decision not to go after another row and claims Hiddink favoured white players marred the Dutch campaign in Euro 96.