If it were a question of team spirit, morale and harmony, then England would rout Holland in tonight's distinctly curious Group A showdown at Wembley. Were the criteria simply individual skill and intelligence, then the Dutch would be the masters. Rarely has the contrast been more acute.

England are still airborne after Gazza's coup de grace against the Scots last Saturday, and so corn into this evening's game on a unified high. Discord is rampant once again in the Dutch camp but sheer all round ability may overcome both that and an overrated English side.

It's an intriguing clash of foot balling cultures as much, as anything else. The contrasting celebrations to their match clinching second goals in their respective wins at the weekend exemplified that. Somehow, one can't quite imagine Dennis Bergkamp being drowned in a reenactment of tequila sessions in a dentist chair. Lucky to get a high five.

If England win, in a sense it, will be a legitimation of the "boss" syndrome, where the manager's decisions are not questioned, merely acted upon by a team sharing a sense purpose. If the Dutch to, it would surely demonstrate that such virtues are secondary to the development, of the individuals into all embracing players. ,Unfortunately, we may not obtain an answer.

Going Dutch with the points in a mutually beneficial draw will ensure both teams advance into the quarter finals next weekend, with England the happier for remaining at Wembley as group winners. Somehow you sense that is how it will end.

Certainly it would be hard to imagine either team striving for a winning goal if the side& were level entering the last 15 minutes or so. Remember Palermo, and the Mick McCarthy Ruud Gullit exchange which precipitated a knock about last few minutes in which to cross the half way line was regarded as an unnecessary flirtation with the enemy?

Of course, it would be a dangerous tactic to start off with. Both managers appear intent on selecting iii&their strongest sides and have talked the good fight.

"We will be trying to beat England, like they will try to beat us," maintains Guus Hiddink. "We will not be going for what I call a solemn draw. It is not in our character and I don't think it is in England's either."

Venables echoed such sentiments, admitting he had never seen the Dutch play for a draw in his life, though he added optimistically. "Maybe there's a first time."

Ever the shrewdie, he added the rider that finishing second by virtue of a defeat, thereby going to Anfield for a Sunday quarter final against the Group B winners, would not be catastrophic. "That's fine. We're used to playing there and it gives the people in the north a chance to see the team," he insists.

In fact, it might be no bad thing, and is surely the worst fate that can befall the English. A one goal loss would require a three goal Swiss win over the Scots. Likewise, Holland could only miss out altogether if they lost by 1-0 and the Scots beat Switzerland by 3-0.

Comforted by that, the two teams could play with a certain relaxed freedom, or just conduct a relatively mild knock around. In one respect, they are quite similar, because they are the only teams who employ two attacking wingers though admittedly the flanks haven't been scorched bare just yet.

Furthermore, each achieved some success by switching initially left sided wingers, Steve McManaman and Jordi Cruyff, to the right. But, sadly, there will be Redknapp to cajole and provide for McManaman, while Jordi Boy's best position is still a matter for debate.

Peter Huikstra was the bigger success against the Swiss once Stephane Jeanneart tired and the Dutch began to vary their passing game with more direct, longer balls. Presented with a numerous defence, they have traditionally struggled to break them down. But as the Swiss game showed were they to bring the opposition out with an opening goal then the likes of Tony Adams and Stuart Pearce (one tournament too many?) could be brutally exposed.

The Dutch haven't lost to a side from these islands in 14 competitive games dating back 16 years. Venables, aware of their threat, isn't fooled by the latest discord.

To counter Holland's wingers, Venables is expected to revert to a flat back four with the same starting personnel again Gareth Southgate retreating from midfield. Hiddink, judiciously, is liable to retain Clarence Seedorf in a more advanced midfield role, with Aron Winter patrolling his former Lazio teammate Gascoigne.

Technically, even this discordant, under strength Dutch side still look a more proficient team of individuals. But there's the rub. Morale patently isn't good. England's is, and they at least have a goalkeeper and a goal scorer in good form.