GEEL, Belgium, June 27 (Reuters) - The Dutch are worse in defence than attack and centre backs Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer can both be beaten for pace, according to Italian midfielder Stefano Fiore.

Fiore, who will play in an attacking midfield role for the Italians in their Euro 2000 semifinal clash with Holland on Thursday, said he was not overawed by the 6-1 drubbing of Yugoslavia in the quarter-finals.

'Anyone who saw their performance against Yugoslavia is bound to have been impressed but we need to keep things in perspective,' the Udinese midfielder said.

'They're a great team but let's not get carried away by the scoreline against the Yugoslavs. Yugoslavia made a real mess of that game and the Dutch had it relatively easy.'

'I don't think their defence is as good as their midfield or their attack,' he said.

'From a physical point of view, maybe neither Stam nor De Boer are at their peak.'

'We can beat them for speed. They're both great players who impose themselves at the back but if we take them on at speed they could be in trouble.'

De Boer and Stam had few problems containing the Czechs and Danes in the Netherlands' group matches and were seldom tested by the Yugoslavs.

On Thursday they will face the pace of Filippo Inzaghi and the creativity of his Italian striking partner Francesco Totti, who will play just in front of Fiore.

Fiore said he expected to be marked by Phillip Cocu while Demetrio Albertini would be given the task of containing the considerable midfield threat of Dutchman Edgar Davids.

'We have to defend well because on the wings, in one-to-ones, they have some great, quick players,' Fiore said. 'The overlaps will be crucial.'

'If they play like, for example, we did against Turkey - full on for the first 20 or 25 minutes - and yet they don't score, they could pay for it later.'

Centre back Alessandro Nesta said Italy would rely on experience as well as talent to carry them through to their first European Championship final since their only victory in the tournament in 1968.

'They don't have any weak links, it's the individual incidents that will make the difference,' said Nesta, expected to mark Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert.

'Our strength is our composure - we have a great history behind us and every other team hopes they won't come up against Italy.'

Midfielder Luigi Di Biagio, expected to come into Dino Zoff's starting line-up for the injured Antonio Conte, said Italy were capable of handling the threat of wide players Marc Overmars and Boudewijn Zenden.

'On the flanks we're very well covered by Maldini and Zambrotta. Given their work rate we shouldn't suffer too much. I'm very optimistic. Let's hope my optimism is justified.'