Source: Xinhua

06-17-2008 20:42

Special Report:   2008 European Championships

BRUSSELS, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Dutch head coach Marco van Bastenis set to put nine new players into the starting lineup in their last group match Tuesday against Romania at the European Soccer Championships in Austria and Switzerland, Dutch newspaper Telegraaf reported.

Van Basten also plans to rest several players, including Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Dirk Kuyt and Khalid Boulahrouz who willnot play Tuesday night in Berne, Switzerland, said the paper.

The Oranje contingent have already assured themselves of a quarter-final berth as group winners after whipping Italy and France.

Speculation is high that van Basten would field a second-string team against Romania, which needs a victory to go through to the quarter-finals. France and Italy will play in the other group match in Zurich, with both sides also in desperate need of a victory.

But Telegraaf said that France and Italy should not worry as " the Dutch reserves are tough to beat."

 

Editor:Zhang Ning