Germany promise to surprise Dutch

Germany have a surprise ready for the Netherlands when they open their Euro 2004 campaign against their arch-rivals on Tuesday.

"We have a surprise for (Dutch coach) Dick Advocaat and his team," assistant Germany coach Michael Skibbe said on Saturday.

Rudi Voeller's deputy, who would not elaborate, said Germany would concentrate on tactics in the training sessions left before the Group D clash in Porto, all of which will be staged behind closed doors.

The emphasis will be on the defence after nervous displays in embarrassing defeats by Romania and Hungary in the build-up to the tournament.

"It will crucial for us to have a compact and aggressive defence and to make sure we do not allow the Dutch to play their game," Skibbe told reporters at Germany's training camp on the Algarve coast.

The surprise promised by Skibbe could be that Germany field just one man up front, probably VfB Stuttgart's Kevin Kuranyi, to concentrate on neutralising the dangerous Dutch strikers, including the prolific Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Germany, who have fought many classic battles with their Dutch neighbours, cannot match the current Dutch team in terms of individual talent but that does not worry Skibbe.

"We have to rely on the qualities that have made Germany so strong over the years," he said.

"If we play as a team with plenty of dedication and if every single player goes to the limit, we can beat anybody."