The Italians were
impressed by the Dutch demolition of Yugoslavia but say their
Euro 2000 semifinal in Amsterdam on Thursday will be a whole
different ball game.
"They're a great squad with great players who can change a
match at any moment," striker Francesco Totti said when asked
what he gleaned from the Netherlands' 6-1 quarter-final rout of
the Yugoslavs on Sunday.
"Kluivert, Davids, Zenden -- they have got five or six
players who are very important to the team."
But Totti said the expansive Dutch game would suit the
Italians down to the ground.
"Playing the way they do they leave a few holes behind their
midfield," he said. "We have created five or six good chances
per game so far. We have to do the same again and make the most
of them."
"It will be totally different from their Yugoslavia match,"
Totti vowed. "They'll be facing a team who can cause them a few
difficulties."
The Dutch produced perhaps the most fluid performance of the
tournament to crush the Yugoslavs and start as favourites
against an Italy side wich has carved out four functional but
unspectacular victories to reach the semis.
impressed by the Dutch demolition of Yugoslavia but say their
Euro 2000 semifinal in Amsterdam on Thursday will be a whole
different ball game.
"They're a great squad with great players who can change a
match at any moment," striker Francesco Totti said when asked
what he gleaned from the Netherlands' 6-1 quarter-final rout of
the Yugoslavs on Sunday.
"Kluivert, Davids, Zenden -- they have got five or six
players who are very important to the team."
But Totti said the expansive Dutch game would suit the
Italians down to the ground.
"Playing the way they do they leave a few holes behind their
midfield," he said. "We have created five or six good chances
per game so far. We have to do the same again and make the most
of them."
"It will be totally different from their Yugoslavia match,"
Totti vowed. "They'll be facing a team who can cause them a few
difficulties."
The Dutch produced perhaps the most fluid performance of the
tournament to crush the Yugoslavs and start as favourites
against an Italy side wich has carved out four functional but
unspectacular victories to reach the semis.