ORLANDO. July 6: The Dutch World Cup squad took a | well earned day

— off today as they contemplated the prospect that life without Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit may not be so bleak as they thought, reports Reuter

Monday’s 2-0 win over Ireland carried the Netherlands to the quarter finals for the first time since the golden days In 1974 and 1978 when they finished as losing finalists.

More Importantly a compelling. all-round performance in which Dennis Bergkamp led by example showed at last that the Dutch are not just title contenders on paper but on the field as well.

Van Basten’s career threatening ankle Injury and Gullit’s highly publicised walkout just before the finals looked likely to leave the Dutch team without the leaders capable of making the men from the lowlands scale the heights of success.

^n unimpressive and tricky passage through Group F seemed to confirm the view that the Dutch were a little short of true class but the Irish match changed all that.

Trainer Dick Advocaat, who would naturally have liked both of the missing stars on his squad, was highly delighted with his new-found team.

"We are very satisfied that we have also played most of the last two years without both Gullit and Van Basten." he said.

Gullit played in Just three World Cup qualifying matches before he quit the side in an earlier disagreement with Advocaat over tactics and Van Basten appeared tn only two before his injury. In their abseftce. the clockwork orange machine has certainly not run down and Bergkamp Is the man who is winding it up. The blond forward struck for his second goal in as many matches on Monday, taking his tally to 21 in 35 games for his country.

The 25-year-old Inter Milan player used to prefer to get his goals on darting runs from midfield but these days he is leading the attack from a centre-forward position and doing it with style and relish.

But the blossoming Dutch team who take on World Cup favourites Brazil in a daunting test in Dallas on Saturday are much more than Just a vehicle for Bergkamp s skills.

Despite criticism of his lack of pace Ronald Koeman con tlnues to be a tower of strength In central defence even though he has rarely got forward as yet to unleash his fearsome free kicks and long range shots

In midfield. Bergkamp's Inter teammate Wtm Jonk pulled the strings perfectly against the Irish In the ab-sence of the suspended veteran Jan Wouters but It was the attack which was most impressive

Unlike other teams at the World Cup. the Dutch are playing not with one but two wingers and young Marc Overmars and Peter van Vossen proved the fatal thorns in Ireland's side.

Overmars, a 21 -year-old Ajax Amsterdam flanker, was simply brilliant as he Jinked past opponents at will and caused confusion and panic by constantly switching wings.

Advocaat's belief in wing approach play has led him to field no less than four wingers In the tournament so far with Bryan Roy and Gaston Taumerrt also appearing in mosF matches.

The trainer's faith in attacking soccer leaves the Dutch vulnerable at the back with only three out-and-out defenders in Koeman, Frank de Boer and Stan Valckx.

But the defence held up superbly against Ireland with midfielders Jonk. Robert Wltschge. Aron Winter and Frank Rljkaard all providing extra cover and support In midfield.

"I think the defence played really well," Advocaat said.

They didn't give away too many chances."

How they will cope with Romario and Bebeto on Saturday may be another matter but the Dutch go into the game without any complexes, knowing victory would make them favourites for the title.