Bergkamp may make difference

MARSEILLE, JUNE 19: Dennis Bergkamp will start his first game for seven weeks tomorrow which should guarantee the Dutch score their first go...

MARSEILLE, JUNE 19: Dennis Bergkamp will start his first game for seven weeks tomorrow which should guarantee the Dutch score their first goal of the 1998 finals and South Korea8217;s World Cup winless run continue.

The Koreans themselves have no illusions about their chance against a side who, without the suspended Patrick Kluivert, want to make up for the disappointing 0-0 draw in the opening game against Belgium.

8220;I8217;m hoping for a goalless draw against the Netherlands. If we take a point, then maybe we can beat Belgium to go through to the second round,8221; said South Korean coach Bum Kun-cha.

For the Netherlands, the match is a repeat of what might called the Belgian problem. The other teams in Group E regard the Dutch as favourites and will concentrate on thwarting their attack.

The strategy may be unattractive but as the Belgians showed, you can blunt the Dutch front line.

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink will attack along both flanks and believes a fully fit Bergkamp he played 25 minutes against theBelgians after recovering from a hamstring pull will make the most of a stream of chances.

The South Koreans are likely to stick one, maybe two, up front and defend in numbers against Bergkamp, a striker who combines goalscoring prowess with sublime ball skills.

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Hiddink has hinted he will partner Bergkamp with Ronald de Boer, normally an attacking mid-fielder, rather than Jimmy Floy Hasselbaink whose first touch was missing against Belgium.

8220;We8217;ll face a big defensive block so we must be able to create room on both flanks. Against Belgium, we missed out on that last part of our game and we presented no danger in the middle,8221; he said.

Marc Overmars, the Netherlands8217; greatest threat, is a definite starter, but the question is where ? Last Saturday, he was devastating on the left wing, his preferred position, but there is a feeling he will be switched to the right to allow Boudewijn Zenden, the side8217;s other true winger.

Hiddink has hinted he will bring in the towering Pierre Van Hooijdonk.

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8220;SouthKorea play at a high tempo. They are likely to tire and we can bring on other weapons then,8221; Hiddink said.

Probable Teams

Netherlands: 1-Edwin Van der Sar, 20-Aron Winter, 3-Jaap Stam, 4-Frank de Boer, 5-Arthur Numan, 14-Marc Overmars, 10-Clarence Seedorf, 11-Phillip Cocu, 12-Boudewijn Zenden, 7-Ronald de Boer, 8-Dennis Bergkamp.

South Korea: 1-Kim Byung-Ji, 13-Kim Tae-Young, 20-Hong Myung-Bo, 5-Lee Min-Sung, 14-Ko Jong-Soo, 15-Lee Sang-Yoon, 16-Jang Hyung-Seok, 6-Yoo Sang-Chul, 7-Kim Do-Keun, 8-Noh Jung Yoon, 9-Kim do-Hoon.