Gulit sees Dutch shading it against Guus´ Russians

June 20, 2008

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Former Dutch star Ruud Gullit said on Friday he believed the Oranje, coached by his 1988 teammate Marco van Basten, would just edge out a Russia side coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink, in Saturday's Euro 2008 quarter-final.

Gullit told Ford's Feel Football programme: “I think that in the first three matches they (Holland) have played excellent.

“(But) the knockout stage is serious and they have to continue to play the way they are playing now.

“I think van Basten has done well from the first day. I think that the good thing with Holland - and with Russia - is that they are teams, not individuals,” said Gullit, making Wesley Sneijder and Ruud van Nistelrooy his key men.

“The Russia game is going to be a tough game for Holland because the Russians can play also. The Dutch fans will be very positive about Hiddink because he is a very nice guy and they will be very happy to see him.

“But they will not be happy if he beats us. It is a young Russian team, fit athletic, very good team to play against. They have the hunger too, but I think it will be one-nil for Holland.”

Gullit also said he was intrigued to see former England manager Steve McClaren agree to take over at Dutch side FC Twente.

“It is a surprise, but it is a nice surprise. I hope he does well, but it is a different ball game than in England. Everything in Holland is very tactical.”

Gullit, who had a torrid time as coach of Newcastle and now coaches Los Angeles Galaxy in US Major League Soccer, also suggested that Luiz Felipe Scolari would need time to adapt to life in the English Premiership with Chelsea after ending his stint with Portugal and Brazil before that.

“It will take time to adjust, but I think he will do well. He needs time to get into it, time to adjust himself, give himself time.”

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