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Netherlands survive troubles to advance to Euro finals ( 2003-11-20 09:18) (Agencies)
The Czech Republic and the Netherlands were always likely to contest top spot in European Championship qualifying Group Three.
Both matches between the former European champions were pivotal, with a 1-1 draw in Rotterdam and the Czechs' 3-1 win on home soil sealing their place in Portugal and condemning the Dutch to a playoff against Scotland.
Although the Dutch swamped Scotland 6-0 in the second leg of the playoff for a 6-1 aggregate win, it wasn't always that easy for coach Dick Advocaat and his not-so-merry band of men.
The Netherlands started their qualifying campaign with comfortable wins over Belarus and Austria before facing the Czechs in Rotterdam.
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy put the home side ahead late in the first half but a brilliant solo run by Milan Baros set up towering striker Jan Koller for the equaliser.
The Czechs celebrated the draw as a victory believing they would probably clinch top spot by beating their main rivals in Prague in September.
In the five months between the matches the Dutch lost their form as Advocaat struggled to find his best attacking combination.
In Van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert, Roy Makaay, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Pierre van Hooijdonk Advocaat has five quality strikers, but he seemed unable to find the right pairing.
Hard-fought wins in Moldova and Belarus provoked strong criticism of Advocaat and he dropped midfielder Clarence Seedorf for the match in the Czech Republic before gathering the squad to discuss the team's poor performances.
NOT WORKING
All the preparations went out of the window, however, as the Dutch were 2-0 and a man down at halftime following the sending off of Edgar Davids.
Advocaat hauled off Van Nistelrooy 20 minutes from the end, incurring the wrath of the Manchester United forward, and later said the combination of Kluivert and Van Nistelrooy simply did not work.
Advocaat started with Kluivert in the team for the first leg playoff against Scotland but replaced him with Roy Makaay as the Dutch suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Hampden Park.
As the debate about whether Van Nistelrooy and Kluivert could play in the same team rumbled on, Advocaat stuck with the Manchester United marksman and left Kluivert on the bench.
His selection was justified with Van Nistelrooy grabbing a hat-trick as the Dutch romped to a 6-0 win in the second leg in Amsterdam to emerge with a 6-1 aggregate victory.
That success has silenced the critics for now but, just like his only other preparation for a major tournament, the 1994 World Cup, Advocaat faces problems in the run-up to Euro 2004.
His midfield needs attention, with Davids failing to carry out instructions on several occasions, and Advocaat will need help from his assistant Wim van Hanegem and former Netherlands playmaker Ruud Gullit.
The captain of the 1988 squad joined the Dutch Football Association this year to coach the under-19 team to the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands and has agreed to assist Advocaat in Portugal.
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