The Dutch, a few of their players have been making it clear this week, are well used to doing things the hard way. So it was no great surprise at the Carlisle Grounds on Thursday night when Louis van Gaal strolled out for his team's first training session in Ireland with the air of a man who expected only one outcome to this afternoon's game at Lansdowne Road.

"It won't be easy, but we are confident," was the manager's message as he at least conceded soaring expectations back at home in the wake of the win over England had brought problems his men could do without. "There is always a pressure to win," observed the man whose managerial honours include three Dutch and two Spanish titles, as well as UEFA and European Cup wins with Ajax. "Dutch people always think we are the best but the win in England has raised their hopes further and we have to fulfil those expectations."

Most of his players have had time to come to terms with the pressure that accompanies being part of the Oranje and seven of the side expected to start this afternoon have played in one or more major championships.

Van Gaal, though, has also shown himself willing to bring through the next generation of Dutch stars, with a dozen new players given opportunities to stake long-term claims in the national set-up since the 50-year-old took over from Frank Rijkaard last summer.

One of the most successful debutants has been PSV's Kevin Hofland, the 22-year-old central defender who has already been the subject of two unsuccessful transfer bids by English giants Manchester United.

This afternoon Kevin Keegan Hofland, who has been making the most of Frank de Boer's prolonged absence from the side, will partner the man United tried to buy to replace him last weekend. With only three caps to his name, the partnership looks a little risky for such a big game but few back in Holland doubt the new man's ability to cope.

"It's like with Richard Dunne," van Gaal says, "you have to start somewhere and I am sure Kevin will do well. He will have not just have Jaap Stam to help him but the whole team and together they will allow him to settle into the role that we expect of him."

A less adventurous defender than de Boer, Hofland was the central figure in a Dutch three-man defence when the Irish under-21s lost 2-0 in Nijmegen a year ago. That day he coped rather comfortably with an attack made up of Gary Doherty and Michael Reddy.

He had only recently signed for PSV from Fortuna Sittard where, over the previous three seasons, the youngster had already had the opportunity to rack up more than 50 top flight appearances. At the Philips Stadium, he settled in quickly, forming a strong central defensive partnership with the much more experienced Russian international, Yuri Nikiforov, and helping the club to the Eeredivisie title.

He also got to play Champions League football with the club and it is this mixture of domestic success and international experience that convinces PSV officials like Pedro Salazar the club can attract and hold on to rising stars like Hofland, at least for a time.

"There's no point in saying that we can compete with the Manchester Uniteds - we can't - and so when the time is right we don't argue about whether a player goes or not, we talk about a fee that is right for PSV.

"But there are good reasons for Kevin to stay with PSV for another season or two. Here, there is the pressure to win all of the time in the league because we are a very big club within the Netherlands and there is the opportunity to play Champions League, maybe every year. But it all comes without the madness the media brings in some other countries."

When United came calling last week they were told that the player, who only a couple of months ago signed a two-year contract extension that ties him to the Eindhoven club until 2006, could leave for £15 million.

Still, the feeling is Hofland will go to England, if not next summer then the one after that, and most of his international team-mates feel the move is inevitable, with Barcelona midfield star Phillip Cocu remarking on Thursday night that exposure to foreign league football "is probably the most important part of the development of any Dutch player".

Hofland himself is certainly in no hurry to find out for himself, observing this week that, "I am not an experienced player yet. It will be better for my development if I stay with PSV for another two seasons."

In time, the consensus is he has the ability to master every aspect of the game, with his strength in the air and fine passing ability already strong components in his armoury.

Still, there just might be some time left for us to get a glimpse of his weaknesses too. Well, anyway, we can but hope.