TERRY Butcher admits Scotland's World Cup rivals Holland had magic in their boots against Italy but claims they could be less tricky in nine months' time.
TERRY Butcher admits Scotland's World Cup rivals Holland had magic in their boots against Italy but claims they could be less tricky in nine months' time.
Scotland assistant boss and former Ipswich Town captain, Butcher jokingly suggested it could take illness in the Dutch camp to give the Scots a decent chance of victory in their two World Cup qualifiers next year.
He saw Holland launch their Euro 2008 bid with a 3-0 victory over reigning world champions Italy and said: "I thought the Dutch were very impressive. I thought they played some wonderful football and contained Italy very well.
"I thought Giovanni van Bronckhorst was the man of the match, but it was one of those performances from the Dutch which you just sit back and admire.
"They were just really on fire on the night.
"Let's hope the Dutch have a virus or something when it comes to the World Cup qualifying.
"From a Scotland point of view, it's quite a while until we play the Dutch, and I'm very grateful about that and I'm sure George is as well because the Dutch certainly look very good.
"If they play anywhere near their potential, as we've seen with Scotland in the past, they can certainly destroy any team.'
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