Pitbull looking to put bite back into Holland

Many times in football a team needs a win to salvage its pride, but according to new Dutch manager Dick Advocaat, the Dutch side that plays England tonight is suffering from deeper wounds than mere bruised ego.

Failing to qualify for the World Cup spelled nothing less than shame and humiliation for the entire country.

"Holland's football team has lost the respect of the Dutch nation," said the man whose fitting nickname is The Pitbull.

"Not playing in the World Cup has left us with a trauma and it is difficult to say whether my players have got over that yet.

"The closer we get to the finals, the more that may hurt some of them. This week I have started a new period with the national team. They can prove to me in this match that not qualifying was a big mistake.

"The players know they should be at the finals. Holland are the biggest team in Europe."

Setting aside the views of Italy and France about that last claim, it falls to the former PSV and Rangers boss (he remains technical director to the latter) to turn it around after Louis van Gaal's disastrous tenure.