March 30th, 99

Argentines not out for revenge against the Netherlands

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- The last time the Netherlands met Argentina, Dennis Bergkamp became a Dutch hero with a last-minute goal to send his country into the World Cup semifinals and knock the Argentines out.

On Wednesday, Argentina gets its first chance to avenge the 2-1 defeat in Marseille last summer as the two sides meet in an exhibition match.

But the Argentine players insist revenge is not on their minds.

"This is not a chance to get even," Nelson Vivas said. "If we win, we won't move to the semifinals in the World Cup. It's just another game, against a major opponent."

Fernando Redondo, who was a member of the team that lost to the Dutch, agreed.

"This is not a return game, just an exhibition game of great importance."

Argentina is preparing for uly's Copa America while the Dutch are using the match as part of their preparation of the 2000 European Championship, for which they do not have to qualify because they are co-hosting the tournament with Belgium.

While both sides taking the pitch at the 50,000-seat Amsterdam Arena largely will be unchanged from their meeting in the World Cup quarterfinals, they both are under new management.

The Dutch are now coached by Frank Rijkaard, who took over when Guus Hiddink moved to Real Madrid after the World Cup, which ended when the Netherlands lost Brazil in the semifinals and again to Croatia in the third-place playoff.

Argentina is now trained by Marcelo Bielsa, successor to Daniel Passarella who left following the side's disappointing World Cup performance.

The Dutch side looks like it will be without the services of Barcelona midfielder Ronald de Boer, who has a calf injury.

"A muscle in my right calf is giving me too much trouble," De Boer said.

His twin brother, Frank, who provided the pinpoint pass for Bergkamp's quarterfinal goal, will captain the Dutch and is keen for a victory after three draws in as many exhibition matches.

"Argentina has one of the world's best sides at the moment," De Boer said. "If we can't get a good result against them, that is going to eat away at us."