Portugal face tough Dutch test

Gelsenkirchen: Portugal have improved in every group game, performing their best yet in their World Cup Group D 2-1 win over Mexico but whether they have what it takes against much tougher opposition remains to be seen.

"I think we are improving since the first game," said captain Luis Figo. "The level of confidence is better, the team is not so anxious."

Portugal progress to the last 16 with the maximum nine points but have not really been tested in a group which included Iran and World Cup debutants Angola.

Speaking before the side knew they would be meeting the Dutch in the second round, Figo insisted he did not care who Portugal would play.

"If you want to win you have to play against the strongest so it doesn't matter so much," he said.

Nor would he be drawn on whether Portugal had the mettle to beat either team. "I'll tell you that after the game," he said.

The players have hinted that, given the choice, they would prefer to face a Dutch side which have impressed with their solid performances and held Argentina to a goalless draw on Wednesday.

Determined to progress as group leaders, they see the Netherlands, who they knocked out of Euro 2004 in the semi-finals, as a more familiar foe.

Portugal have never played Argentina, but they hold the upper hand as far as statistics against the Dutch go, losing only once in their nine previous meetings.

"We were happy with our performance against Holland in Euro 2004," said defender Ricardo Carvalho.

"We know the Netherlands very well, we play a similar game tactically and physically," he added.

Having made the sensible decision to rest his booked players, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was impressed with the way the substitutes, particularly winger Simao Sabrosa, played in the Mexico game.

He now has the enviable problem of having to pick a starting 11 to face the Netherlands in Nuremberg on Sunday from a selection where many more are ready and able to play.

"I wouldn't like to be the coach in his position," Figo said afterwards. "They (the replacements) did their job really well. They showed we are not only 14 or 15 players.

All players here are at the same level and can do their job the same as the others."