When Italy take on Holland in the semi-final of Euro 2000 on Thursday there will be some interesting matches and mismatches on the pitch which will no doubt add to the game as a spectacle.

Alessandro Nesta v Patrick Kluivert
Mr.Consistency v Mr.Unpredictable. Nesta has emerged as one of the finest central defenders in Europe as he led Lazio to the Serie A title this season and then marshalled Italy's defence calmly to the semifinals stage at Euro 2000.

The 24-year-old reads the game as well as any veteran and he is a thoroughly modern defender.

As well as possessing the traditional necessities of power in the air and strength in the tackle he is comfortable moving out of defence and able to deal with threats from the flanks as well as down the centre.

Nesta will need all those attributes if Kluivert repeats the form that saw him grab a hat-trick in the 6-1 quarter-final demolition of Yugoslavia.

The Barcelona striker has frustrated several of his coaches with his languid approach to the game and his unorthodox positional play, but he can be devastating if given space near to goal, as Nesta's Lazio team mate Yugoslav Sinisa Mihajlovic could testify.

Filippo Inzaghi v Jaap Stam
Inzaghi's goal against Romania in the quarter-final was his first strike in open play for over three months but the Dutch should not read too much into that statistic.

The Juventus striker is a classic goal poacher, scoring the vast majority of his goals from close range, usually after making a perfectly timed run into the penalty area.

His perceived lack of personality and the deceptive way in which he poses a threat to opposition defences mean he has rarely received credit for his undoubted ability, but Stam is just the kind of defender Inzaghi loves to play against.

Two years ago in the Champions League Inzaghi scored twice against a Manchester United defence marshalled by Stam, although Juventus went on to lose the game 3-2.

But while Inzaghi will hope his greater mobility and pace will be too much for the shaven- headed Dutchman to handle, Stam has shown that strikers rarely get the better of him twice.

He is an immense presence in the air but his physique hides his other qualities, in particular an ability to sweep-up danger and cover for his full-backs.

Demetri Albertini v Edgar Davids
Dutch midfielder Davids, with his dreadlocked hair and rock-star sunglasses is one of the most recognisable figures at Euro 2000 but it is not only his image that has attracted attention.

Combative, dynamic and powerful he is a supreme destroyer, able to halt opposition attacks and break-up play.

But typically for the modern game he is also a force when going forward and his passing bears all the hallmarks of his Ajax academy education.

Up against him on Thursday will be a more understated player in AC Milan's Demetrio Albertini, but one who is just as important to his team's chances.

Albertini's passing against Romania was sublime on occasions and a clear indication that he is back to his best after a poor spell of form with his club.

Albertini is capable of playing the crucial release balls that can launch Italy's deadly counter-attacks - if Davids allows him.

Francesco Toldo and Edwin van der Sar
The two tallest goalkeepers in Serie A and without doubt two of the best 'keepers in the world.

Fiorentina's Toldo has taken his chance at Euro 2000 stepping in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon and he could well be Italy's number one for years to come after his accomplished performances.

Always a great shot-stopper Toldo has improved immensely on crosses and distribution since his days as a youngster at AC Milan.

Van der Sar, an excellent all-round 'keeper applies the golden goalkeepers' rule of not minding which part of his body he saves with and he has saved the day for Juventus with his outstretched foot on a number of occasions.

With these two in goal it would be a major surprise if the game was decided by a goalkeeping error and the outfield players will be praying it doesn't go to penalties.

Paolo Maldini v Marc Overmars
Maldini has been considered the world's best left-back for the past decade and despite him celebrating his 32nd birthday two days ago it is hard to think of a player who can yet claim to his title.

One of the explanations for the Italian captain's durability is that he has sensibly cut down on his overlapping runs down the flank in the past two seasons and adjusted well to playing as part of a three-man defence at club and occasionally international level.

Maldini will need to focus on his defensive duties on Thursday when he faces the speedy Overmars who in Euro 2000 has been surprisingly used on the right flank, rather than his preferred role on the left.

Overmars is at his most dangerous when he cuts inside, onto Maldini's weaker right foot, but the Italians positional sense should limit the Arsenal winger's chances of exploiting space in the way he did against the hapless Yugoslavs in the quarter-final.

But Overmars has shown that he is quite happy to switch flanks or even move into a central role in search of the ball and his two goals in the quarter-final are a reminder that he is a player who will need closely watching.