But Patrick Kluivert gave the Czechs an early scare as the Euro 2000 favourites started their tournament in ominous fashion in Amsterdam.

The Barcelona striker spun onto a pass eight yards out and only a last-ditch block prevented him giving the Dutch a 13th-minute lead in front of their own fans.

Arsenal star Dennis Bergkamp fired in the rebound from 20 yards but his curling effort was saved by keeper Pavel Srnicek.

Two minutes later Kluivert burst through and his drive from the edge of the box was turned away for a corner by Srnicek at full stretch.

Edgar Davids, sporting his trademark goggles due to an eye condition, was looking in dangerous form, with two charges into the box thwarted only at full stretch by the Czech Republic.

Holland started with Marc Overmars, who suffered an injury last week, having to settle for a place on the bench. Barcelona's Boudewijn Zenden began in place of the Arsenal winger.

The Czechs were without Liverpool midfielder Patrik Berger, due to suspension - he also misses the match against France - but clubmate Vladimir Smicer lined up for Euro 96's beaten finalists, currently ranked third in the world.

Bergkamp was felled twice in a minute - the first a stiff challenge from behind by Fiorentina defender Tomas Repke - but the Dutch failed to make use of the resulting free-kicks.

After 27 minutes Davids broke down the left but his cross to the far post missed all his colleagues.

The Czechs were struggling to break into the game and in the first half hour failed to create even one meaningful pass.

Michael Reiziger, another of Holland's Barcelona contingent, won a corner but the Czechs cleared Bergkamp's flag-kick comfortably.

Bergkamp flashed a shot narrowly wide shortly after an excellent turn in the box on the half-hour mark, but the Czechs were defending in depth and marking their opponents tightly.

Dutch skipper Frank de Boer picked up a yellow card for a lunge on Lazio star Pavel Nedved. The free-kick was cleared and fell to Tomas Rosicky, but he scuffed his shot well wide.

Smicer looped a pass over the Dutch defence to put Nedved clear but he was judged offside.

Bergkamp escaped the attentions of Petr Gabriel for a moment to flick a header to Kluivert but he miscontrolled the ball which ran to Clarence Seedorf, whose shot was blocked.

Nedved almost stunned the hosts just before half-time after he was found in space by Jan Koller. He fired in a fierce long-range effort which only narrowly missed the top corner.