Holland coach Marco Van Basten said that his team's World Cup second-round encounter against Portugal on Sunday will be a very difficult game. The Dutch came second to Argentina in the Group C table on goal difference and will face Portugal who won Group D with nine points from three games. "I would rate it as a 50-50 game, we both play similar styles and we have both done well in the group stages," Van Basten was quoted as saying by BBC on Saturday. "I don't think you could say who was going to win with any certainty, it really is in the balance," the former European player of the year added,” he added. Van Basten said that such a close knock-out tie could well go into extra-time and maybe even extend to a penalty shootout, and confirmed that his players will be prepared for both situations. "It is a very stressful situation and something you should be ready to deal with." "Tennis players are already able to serve but you still see them practicing again and again, the more you practice the better you become and if your mind is right you've better chance to make a positive result," Van Basten said. Van Basten's only worry for the Portugal game will be defender John Heitinga who's expected to recover from a hamstring injury he had picked up in their game against Ivory Coast, while the Dutch tactician may opt to play with Dirk Kuyt in place of Ruud Van Nistelrooy.
