Football: 137 days... and counting until the World Cup finals

137 days... and counting until the World Cup finals begin in France

The Netherlands have no chance of winning the World Cup this year, or any other year - according to the coach of their illustrious club side, Ajax. Morten Olsen, once an elegant defender for Denmark but now in charge of the Amsterdam team, said this week: "Everyone can play football here but the Netherlands will never be world champions. You don't have the right mindset. You have the players but what you really need is that `over my dead body' attitude. If the Dutch want to be world champions, they have to play seven excellent games. During a world championship that is impossible. There is always one match where you can't save yourself with beautiful football." Olsen said the over-emphasis on attack in Dutch domestic football was partly to blame.

- Rupert Metcalf