The notoriously mutinous crowd that is Holland's national football squad are, for once, a united front.

While the critics, Johann Cruyff the most prominent, make withering attacks on the likes of Edgar Davids and Dennis Bergkamp, it is coach Frank Rijkaard who is under the most pressure.

The wisest informants suggest this once-heroic figure will have no future should Holland lose to quarter-final opponents Yugoslavia in Rotterdam this evening, with Louis van Gaal, who left Barcelona this summer, waiting in the wings.

The coach's return of only four wins in 17 preamble friendlies is what is remembered - unjustly eclipsing the most impressive record in the group phase since the real action started - and it would seem that only the European crown can save him.

But the players are behind Rijkaard, Dutch captain Frank de Boer only too willingly gathering a protective arm around his surprisingly beleaguered coach.

'We all have a lot of respect for Frank, both as a trainer and a former brilliant player,' said De Boer. 'When you are in his position for the first time, you are bound to have unexpected things happen. That's when you must learn from them.

'I don't think he has done much wrong and you can see his confidence growing. The criticism is not easy to take but this is a coach who has good ideas of his own.

'He has learned a lot from very influential leaders of the past in Holland's football history yet he maintains his own vision.'

The irony is that it is Cruyff, a former mentor of Rijkaard, who has been his worst critic during the past fortnight. Even after the 3-2 defeat of world champions France on Wednesday night, Cruyff roundly condemned the Dutch for their lack of imagination.

A smouldering Bergkamp retorted: 'It seems there is always something to moan about. For us, the results remain the most important factor. People, even famous people, being so negative about us doesn't help the cause.

'According to our critics, this is a struggling Dutch team. But we have maximum points from the group stage. How can we be so bad, then?'

Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld admitted: 'All this stuff is irritating. You see the old players and the old coaches just pointing fingers at the negative things. Not once do they ever come up and offer any solutions.

'Yet we are bonded together by this reaction. Not all friends, sure, but all committed to doing a professional job. It is a team who can go all the way to the Final. There is genuine belief in that now, no matter what the critics might say.'

Hanging Judge Johann is not, however, persuaded towards a stay of execution.