PROBABLY none of the finalists enjoys more goodwill this side of the Irish Sea than the Netherlands. There's the memories of Gelsenkirehen, Palermo, Orlando, Anfield and all the off field bonhomie between the rival fans. There's also an appreciation of wonderful football, as epitomised by the denouement to Jack Charlton's reign at Anfield last December. A pity they ain't the same team now.
For, alas, this is no Ajax in Dutch clothing that Scotland face in Villa Park this afternoon (4.30). For starters, gone is the pivotal sweeper Danny Blind, suspended for the opener by UEFA's heavy arm of bureaucracy after incurring a second yellow card at Anfield, an additional, 11th match in Holland's qualifying campaign.
Admittedly Roda's Johan de Kock will provide a stronger aerial presence than Blind if not the same innate understanding with the Ajax unit of goalkeeper Edwin Van Der sar, wing backs Michael Reiziger and Winston Bogarde, along with midfield anchorman cum central defender Edgar Davids (who looked a spent force against Juventus).
Davids will play deeper in the absence of the injured Frank de Boer, with the prodigal Ajax bound Richard Witschge completing the midfield alongside Ronald de Boer. Holland's likely star of the tournament Clarence Seedorf, will play further forward in behind Dennis Bergkamp, who will wear the number 10 shirt but in fact will fill the striking role vacated by the injured Patrick Kluivert.
No doubt these players will have the technical and tactical expertise to paper over the cracks, but it is on the wings where Holland look particularly light. The role of the wingers/wide strikers is crucial to the 3-4-3 system perfected at Ajax but, in truth, the unspectacular Gaston Taument and Jordi Cruyff (no chip off the old block) seem merely to add balance.
They owe their places to the absence of long term casualty Marc Overmars and the inability of others, Glenn Helder and Peter Huikstra. Even so the selection of Cruyff ahead of Brian Roy, in the squad, never mind the team, smacks of nepotism more than ability.
That aside, even Blind has tempered post Anfield euphoria by commenting: "We will need all the luck there is to reach the quarter and semi finals."
Guus Hiddink, their mild mannered 49 year old manager, never seems one to panic in any case and has faith in a young side containing six players in their early 20s.
"We are without some key players, but we are not complaining. The Dutch philosophy is about bringing youngsters through, even when you might think they are too young to play international football. But that is Holland. We would prefer to die by that than by doing other things, and while our plans have been affected I have every confidence."
Of course, the Scots are hardly at optimum strength or world beaters themselves. Alan McLaren is a big loss from central defence where, in the absence of Richard Gough (victim of a personality clash with manager Craig Brown which dates back to unkind comments by the Range is player in his autobiography), Tommy Boyd, Colin Hendry and Colin Calderwood make up the three man central defence in Brown's long established 3-5-2 formation.
Paul McStay's enforced withdrawal from the squad is an even bigger blow leaving Gary McAllister to be flanked by Stuart McCall and John Collins, and carrying a heavy burden. That the Duncan Ferguson less Scots are turning to Gordon Durie and John Spencer or Scott Booth for goals "says everything" according to a member of the pessimistic Scottish media.
Yet, there is a palpably upbeat mood in the Scottish camp after their short tour of North America and in particular the praiseworthy 1-0 defeat to Columbia. This followed friendly defeats to Sweden, Denmark and the USA, but was regarded as their best performance in two years.
"We need every player to play to his maximum," says the equally mild mannered Brown. "If that happens then I don't think Holland will beat us. If we fall short of that and we have passengers then we will suffer."
A defensive strategy, allied to the knowledge that Scotland will not lack for heart, could stifle the sometimes less spirited but more fluid Dutch, as was the case in their opening tie at the same stage four years ago when Bergkamp scored a late winner.
We know that when you play Scotland that there will be fire," admitted Hiddink. "But our plan is to bring out a fire brigade which has both brightness and cleverness."
The Dutch could be vulnerable first off. True, they haven't lost a competitive match in 13 outings to an Irish or British side since Lansdowne Road in 1980. However, the feeling has strengthened that this could be a tighter group than was at first anticipated, and also, possibly, the weakest. In which case a surprise, in the guise of a draw, would leave it finely balanced.
THE English FA yesterday gave its full backing to a British Goveret campaign to bid for the 2006 World Cup backed by £1bn of National Lottery cash.
National Heritage Secretary Virginia Bottomley said another campaign to host the Olympics in 2008 could follow if FIFA can be persuaded to allow England to recreate the 1966 World Cup.
She said: "The Prime Minister and I are determined that we don't have to wait another 30 years before we once again play host to the sporting nations of the world."
The idea has already won the backing of Lennart Johannsen, president of UEFA and likely to play an increasingly influential role in FIFA affairs after persuading the world governing body this week to allow Japan and South Korea to stage the 2002 World Cup jointly.
FA spokesman Steve Double reacted with delight at Mrs Bottomley's backing. He said: "We welcome her comments. Obviously, our priority at the moment is the current Euro 96 tournament but this is something we are extremely interested in."
It is understood Lancaster Gate will make a decision on whether to bid to hold the tournament shortly.
Bottomley said: "If it takes Lottery money to attract the Olympic Games to Britain in 2008, we are ready to spend it."
