FRANCE 98 – Match preview n°61

Brazil meet Holland for a place in the World Cup final here on Tuesday night, with the holders putting their faith in Ronaldo and Dutch hopes resting on Dennis Bergkamp. The two strikers are in the spotlight after Inter Milan star Ronaldo set up two of Brazil’s three goals against Denmark, while Bergkamp made one and then scored a stunning winner against Argentina.

Though Brazil will be clear favourites to go through, coach Mario Zagallo knows he cannot afford the same laxity in defence which nearly cost them defeat on Friday night. Led by Arsenal’s ” Dennis the Menace “, Holland have a superior strike force to the Danes and will seize every chance to punish Brazil, who have star defender Cafu suspended and replaced by Ze Carlos. But his absence is the only likely change to a side which is playing better football than at USA 94, with the 3-2 win over the Danes bearing the traces of heart-stopping victories by great Brazil sides of the past.

Zagallo wants to take Brazilian football back to its roots and his team’s performances here are often a tribute to their swaggering sides of the 1970s. ” Winning a fifth World Cup would obviously be something exceptional for my country, “ Zagallo admitted. ” But we don’t have the right to win by betraying ourselves, or by hijacking the spirit of the game.  Brazil has suffered too much over the past 20 years from the European style of play. It has turned its back on its natural qualities, it has lost its identity. But I am here to give it back. “

And Ronaldo is part of that re-discovered identity. The 21-year-old’s devastating runs, searing shots and coolness at the penalty spot has earned him three goals at these finals, and he has also proved to be a gifted goal-maker as well as a scorer. He led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners Cup in 1997 and Inter Milan to the UEFA Cup in 1998. Now he needs to prove himself to the Brazilian people by winning the biggest trophy of them all. ” I know that if I want to enter people’s hearts, I need to win the World Cup, “ he said before the finals. ” Everything else I have done will count for nothing. “

With Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Bebeto all on form, Brazil have overcome the absence of their 1994 hero, Romario. However, they will need to take their chances against a Dutch side who have been impressive throughout the competition, and who go to bed each night dreaming of World Cup glory at the third attempt. They lost in 1974 and 1978 during the Johan Cruyff years, and they were sent packing by Brazil at the quarter-final stage of USA 94. But it’s all history as far as this Dutch side are concerned. ” We can beat Brazil, “ said Bergkamp, who after missing Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph through injury is back to the form which also powered the Gunners to the Premiership title. “The team is very confident. We are getting better with every game,” he added.

Even coach Guus Hiddink claimed: “We’re looking forward to playing Brazil.” Patrick Kluivert, who opened the scoring against Argentina on Saturday, looks to have mastered the temper tantrums which earned him a red card against Belgium and is also cleared to play.

Holland have used a range of tactics so far, with Ronald De Boer running at opponents from midfield, Marc Overmars sprinting down the flanks and Bergkamp prowling in search of a quick one-two or a sudden long ball from Frank De Boer.

However, Hiddink has a minor injury crisis to ovecome by Tuesday after defender Winston Bogarde suffered a serious ankle injury while training outside Monaco on Sunday. He will probably be replaced by all-rounder Phillip Cocu. Overmars is on the doubtful list after pulling a thigh muscle on Thursday night, and could make way for Boudewijn Zenden, while defensive midfielder Aron Winter and defender Michael Reiziger both skipped training because of minor injuries but should recover.

Hiddink’s walking wounded can expect no favours on Tuesday night, but defender Jaap Stam, who joins Manchester United as the world’s most expensive defender next month, warned that Brazil cannot expect any either. “Here everyone has one goal,” he said. “And that’s to go as far as possible.”