EURO 2008 INFO

The most famous Dutchman of them all -- at least as far as soccer is concerned -- likes the Netherlands' chances of winning it all at Euro 2008.

Johan Cruyff, regarded as one of the five greatest players of all time, said the team assembled by Dutch Coach Marco Van Basten has all the ingredients for success.

"When you see the qualities of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben -- they are all players capable of doing something special in a match and that is an exceptional quality," Cruyff said on the tournament's official website, Euro2008.com.

On Saturday, the Netherlands plays Russia in a quarterfinal in what promises to be one of the most attractive games of the tournament, given both teams' willingness to attack and to play wide-open soccer.

The Russians, once a dour lot who relied more on physical strength than skill, are learning under Dutch Coach Guus Hiddink that stylish soccer can bring its rewards.

While the Netherlands has won all three of its matches to date, including routs of France and Italy, and has outscored its opponents, 9-1, Russia has made its own mark with well-deserved victories over Greece and Sweden.

But the Dutch team has been the one to watch, the one that not only plays the game the way it is intended to be played but does so at high speed and with the sort of creative touches and flowing moves that win fans as well as games.

Cruyff, 61, is enjoying every moment of it and said Van Basten, whose goals helped propel Holland to the Euro '88 title, appears to be bringing back the "total football" and "clockwork orange" that Cruyff made famous more than three decades ago.

"It looks like he is bringing back the style of play that he himself was taught," Cruyff said. "If you look at the players, they are all technically gifted and don't wait for the opponent to impose themselves. They go out and grab the opportunity themselves.

"Sometimes you lose -- bad luck -- but I like the approach, I like the attitude."

The Dutch success -- something of a surprise given the way the team struggled during qualifying for Euro 2008 -- has been due as much to the chemistry on the squad as to its collective brilliance.

"Seeing the way everyone gets along with each other . . . it's the best I've ever been a part of," said Sneijder, who also played for the Netherlands in Euro 2004 and at the 2006 World Cup. "Last week we had a day off and some went to play golf while others went for a walk, but at night all 23 had dinner in the same restaurant and that was something I have never experienced before."

The team's ambition has been clear from the start.

"Our goal is still to reach and win the final," Sneijder said after the opening-game rout of world champion Italy, "and therefore we need to stay calm."

Van Basten, who scored a tournament-best five goals in 1988, including an astonishing volley against the Soviet Union in the final, is trying to become the first person to win the European Championship as a player and as a coach.

According to France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, he has the tools to do the job. "Honestly," Coupet said, "that team has everything."

Not quite. It still has to win three more games to be European champion and its players can still outdo their predecessors by winning the World Cup that Holland came oh-so-close to winning in 1974 and 1978.

"These players are still young enough to grow further," Cruyff said. "They are between 22 and 26 years old, not at the peak of their careers, but not young -- they are somewhere in the middle.

"They have got the opportunity, and now the question is, 'Can they take it to the next level?' "

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Euro quote of the day: Russia's Dutch coach, Guus Hiddink, on his plans to hum the Russian anthem when his team plays the Netherlands on Saturday: "I don't know verbally the Russian anthem but I like the melody very much . . . so I will do that of course. When I'm a traitor, I like to be a very good traitor."

Euro statistic of the day: The average amount of ground covered by a goalkeeper during a 90-minute match at Euro 2008 is four kilometers, or about 2.48 miles.

Euro quick update: Gilberto Madail, president of the Portuguese soccer federation, said Friday that he had been aware that Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari would not remain with the team beyond Euro 2008 but criticized the timing by Chelsea in naming Scolari as its new coach, calling it "a pity." . . . Manchester United said on its website that Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo would not be moving to Real Madrid, stating "United are not listening to offers," and that Ronaldo, 23, is "not for sale."

Euro upcoming games: Saturday's quarterfinal pits the Netherlands against Russia in Basel. On Sunday, Spain will play Italy in Vienna.