Nothing wrong with Dutch fielding a second string side: UEFA

Holland will be doing nothing wrong if they field a second choice side against Group C rivals Romania on Tuesday said a UEFA spokesman on Saturday.

The Dutch ensured a place in the quarter-finals when they trounced 2006 World Cup finalists France 4-1 on Friday leaving the French to face world champions Italy with both sides needing to win to have any hope of progressing.

Romania – who have drawn with both the Italians and the French – can progress without worrying about the other result by beating the Dutch which has both the other sides crying foul that the 1988 Euro champions will rest the majority of their first team.

However, UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said it is not against the rules if Dutch coach Marco van Basten does just that.

“That is not contrary to the rules,” said Gaillard.

“Most of the teams hope to have a third match in the first round which is effectively a dead rubber.

“That allows them to rest their players, to play others and to use the whole squad. It is just like that.

“If I remember rightly at Euro 2004 the Czech Republic deployed a second choice side against Germany and still beat them 2-1.”

Even were the Dutch to beat the Romanians, the latter could still progress so long as they didn't lose by a three-goal margin and the other two sides drew as the Italians and French have minus three and Romania 0.