Who else but the Dutch would be talking about the "beautiful game" on the eve of the Euro 2000 kick-off?

Pressed about his thinking on tomorrow's game against the Czech Republic in the Amsterdam Arena, the host nation's coach Frank Rijkaard inevitably felt obliged to mention "beautiful football" as being one of the objectives.

Their build-up has, of course, been miserable, but there have been definite signs of improvement over the past few weeks.

If Marc Overmars shakes off a slight thigh strain in time to play - as he expected to - then Rijkaard will be in a position to field his strongest team against the runners-up from 1996.

The only real question marks are in central midfield and at left full. Phillip Cocu looks likely to partner Edgar Davids in the centre while Barcelona's Boudewijn Zenden may start behind Overmars in place of Arthur Numan.

The Czechs also have just one injury doubt, although their coach Josef Chovanec would have presumably preferred somebody other than their pivotal attacking midfielder Pavel Nedved to be carrying a slight knock to the ankle into such a crucial game.

Patrik Berger, meanwhile, is suspended which is a major blow.

Having played much of his own club football with PSV, Chovanec knows all about the locals' obsession with attractive movement.

However, with the tournament's tallest striker representing his own side's most promising route to goal the Czechs approach tomorrow may be somewhat less than artistic.