Dutch strikers go for each other's throats

He said: "Other Dutch teams had Johan Neeskens or Johan Cruyff, someone who the signal came from to organise things. Perhaps Cruyff went too far because he picked the team, too, but we do not have a leader. That's what makes the difference.

"I cannot do it all myself. I cannot be the only Dutch player who closes down and leads from the front.

"There are players in this team who are much more experienced than I am and those are the ones who the sign should come from. I'm not the only one who can make the decisions, and am possibly too new to the team to do that.

"The difference on Saturday was that Scotland played with passion. In our team there are too many people who will not go the extra mile. They must want to win at all costs and we fall short of that. That must not happen tomorrow."

The Dutch masters share a gift for goalscoring and were born on the same day in 1976, but have little else in common.

Van Nistelrooy has the hunger of a workhorse, driving himself on from humble origins to become the most-feared striker in Europe, while the Barcelona striker is more gifted but less likely to put his qualities to good use.

There are signs that Dick Advocaat is coming to grow tired of Kluivert. Although Van Nistelrooy has been serially substituted throughout his international career, in Glasgow it was Kluivert who made way for Roy Makaay, the modest marksman who topped the European scoring charts with 29 goals for Deportivo La Coruna last season.

The shy Makaay, who has scored 11 times in 15 games for Bayern Munich this term, could start against the country of his ancestors and is desperate for such an opportunity.

He said: "I always try to win my place through scoring goals not talking. I'm the top goal-scorer in Europe which should count for something.

"I am used to big expectations and can handle the pressure. I hope that I start, but if I don't I want to come on and help the team with a goal." Whoever is charged with scoring the goals Holland need to qualify for next summer's European Championship, the prospect of elimination is unthinkable, as Van Nistelrooy acknowledged.

He said: "It has weighed heavily on me that this could be an absolute nightmare for me. I'll be 30 when the next World Cup comes around and I have not played in a major championship.

"If we don't win tomorrow then what does that tell you about me as a footballer and me as a person?"

If Holland do lose then he won't be the only one asking questions.