The Netherlands, under new manager Guus Hiddink, get their Euro 2016 qualifying bid under way against the Czech Republic in Prague on Tuesday.
The Dutch swapped coach Louis van Gaal for Hiddink as the former moved to Manchester United following Holland's 3-0 third-place play-off win over Brazil.
But their new era got off to a lacklustre start with a 2-0 friendly loss to Italy in Bari last Thursday after conceding both goals in the opening ten minutes of the game.
"We won't panic, we have to remain concentrated, there are negatives from this match, but also positives," the 67-year-old Hiddink said after the game in which the Dutch resumed the 4-3-3 system after playing a 5-3-2 under Van Gaal.
Tuesday's tie will be the first-ever national team qualifier for Czech coach Pavel Vrba, who took the side over in January after it had failed to qualify to Brazil.
Confident French draw 1-1
France were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia in Belgrade on Sunday as the hosts couldn’t capitalise on their 1-0 victory over Spain on Thursday.
French midfielder Paul Pogba’s 14th minute goal was cancelled by Serbian Aleksandar Kolarov 80th minute free-kick.
Meanwhile, minnows Gibraltar were demolished 7-0 by Poland, Albania pulled off a major shock by downing Portugal 1-0 and world champions Germany denied battling Scotland 2-1.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2014.
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