Hiddink could start and end Van der Sar Dutch career

Russia's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink gave goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar his Netherlands debut and today could also be the man to end his international career.

The pair come face to face when their sides meet in their quarter-final and Van der Sar has said he will hang up his international boots at the end of the finals.

"Edwin van der Sar has had a tremendous career," Hiddink said of the 37-year-old Netherlands captain whom he handed a debut to in 1995. "I know him rather well, he's the best I think in Holland. He's also a very responsible and very intelligent man. I have enjoyed his performances very much, and I will - minus one."

Hiddink coached Netherlands from 1994 to 1998, taking the country to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals.

Van der Sar is playing in his sixth major tournament. His first three ended in penalty shoot-out defeats - at Euro 96, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Bert van Marwijk, who will succeed Marco van Basten as national coach after the championship, has already said he will try to persuade Van de Sar to continue his international career.