The Netherlands and Serbia and Montenegro face each other at the Zentralstadion, Leipzig in the second match of Group C - with the prospect of a fascinating game in the first all-European encounter in the World Cup.

Both teams come into the match boasting impressive records, and as they face Cote D’Ivoire and Argentina in their other games, neither team is likely to play for a draw.

Marco van Basten's Holland are unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and haven’t conceded a goal in their last nine, a run stretching back to October 2004. Serbia & Montenegro are equally stubborn. Unbeaten in 13 competitive matches, they conceded only one goal during qualification, the best record of all 32 qualifiers.

Oranje head coach van Basten has said he knows what line-up he will play when they take on Serbia and Montenegro, unless injuries force a change.

"I've made up my mind about the team that will start. Only injuries might force me to make changes," he said. "Serbia and Montenegro will be tough to beat and are good opponents who proved their worth in qualifying."

Dutch concerns over a quartet of their main players appear to have largely subsided. Philip Cocu, Gio van Bronckhorst and Wesley Sneijder should all be fit, and are expected to start. However, doubts remain about the fitness of Rafael van der Vaart, with the 22-year-old struggling to shake off an ankle injury. Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to lead the line with Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie playing wide.

Serbia and Montenegro are expected to play Goran Gavrancic at fullback in place of Nemanja Vidic, who is suspended. Midfielder Igor Duljaj will also move to fullback in a reshuffle caused by Vidic's red card, picked up in the last qualifying game against Bosnia.

Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic will be adopting the tight defensive approach that saw his team to the World Cup finals.

"The first three moves often determine the course of a chess game and the first match in a World Cup often decides a team's ambitions," he said. "We'll keep it tight but will look for every chance for a smash-and-grab win."

This is the first and last World Cup for Serbia and Montenegro. Since qualification Montenegro has declared itself independent and the two countries are now separate entities.

Serbia and Montenegro (probable): Jevric, Duljaj, Gavrancic, Krstajic, Dragutinovic, Nadj, Stankovic, Djordjevic, Koroman, Kezman, Milosevic.

Holland (probable): van der Sar, Heitinga, Ooijer, Mathijsen, van Bronckhorst, van Bommel, Sneijder, Cocu, van Persie, van Nistelrooy, Robben

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

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