Netherlands Stars Will Get a Chance to Relax

Edwin van der Sar and Phillip Cocu will have time to enjoy their moment today in Frankfurt, Germany.

With much of the tension taken out of the Netherlands’ game against Argentina because both sides already qualified for the second round, Van der Sar won’t have to be nervous during his record-equaling match.

The goalkeeper will start in his 112th match, equaling the Dutch record set by defender Frank de Boer. Barring injury, he is certain to set a record in the second round, in which the Netherlands will probably face Portugal or Mexico.

Cocu, a hardy midfielder, will make his 100th appearance in a decade-long career in which he has played defense, midfield and on both wings.

But age is starting to tell. Until Tuesday, Cocu was uncertain to start the game because of a sore ankle.

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Brazil’s training session on Tuesday gave no hints on whether Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira would change his lineup for the team’s last group match against Japan on Thursday.

Parreira had said earlier in the week he was considering fielding reserve players for the match in Dortmund to give some of the starters rest before the next round. Seeking a record sixth world title, Brazil advanced to the second round after beating Croatia, 1-0, in Berlin and Australia, 2-0, in Munich.

Parreira said he would make a decision on the starting lineup only after talking to the medical staff and to the “physical department,” adding he wanted to see how the players were recuperating from the first two matches.

Brazil’s starters didn’t seem to like the idea of giving up their spots. “I want to keep playing,” midfielder Kaka said. “I don’t want to lose any rhythm.”

Parreira has said Ronaldo would probably start against Japan so he can continue to find a rhythm.

“His case is different from the other players; he needs to be playing,” the coach said after Brazil’s match against Australia on Sunday. Ronaldo arrived for the World Cup overweight after a series of injuries earlier in the season.

Robinho is one of the four Brazilian players with yellow cards, along with Cafu, Emerson and Ronaldo. Another card on Thursday would automatically suspend them for the second round.

The match is crucial for Japan, which needs a victory to keep its chances of advancing. Brazil needs a draw to secure a first-place finish. It would then face the second-place team in Group E, which includes Italy, the United States, Ghana and the Czech Republic.

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Czech Republic Coach Karel Bruckner received some good news, with striker Milan Baros and defender Marek Jankulovski both possibly fit in time for the decisive group match against Italy in Hamburg on Thursday.

“Of course, it’s a relief,” Bruckner said. “A loss of four players up front was more than significant for us.”

But the team took another hit when striker Jan Koller was ruled out after injuring a hamstring in the World Cup opener against the United States. The Czech Republic will also miss Vratislav Lokvenc, who replaced Koller and was upfront alone against Ghana. He is suspended for Thursday’s game after picking up a second yellow card.