Darius dazzles the Dutch

The Aston Villa man was in scorching form all evening and his immaculately struck close range volley from a David Beckham cross on 61 minutes was no less than either he or England warranted on an evening of experimental success for Sven-Goran Eriksson.

England had found themselves 1-0 down at half-time after a largely forgettable first period.

The Dutch goal came from Patrick Kluivert mid-way through a first half during which England had looked the more composed and cohesive unit. The goal was an untidy one, with the Barcelona man seeing his powerful shot bravely blocked by Sol Campbell, only for the centre-half's lunge to deflect the ball past a helpless Nigel Martyn.

It was both a shock and a disappointment for the Three Lions because, while England had been adventurous and imaginative, the hosts had struggled to find their rhythm and any accuracy in their passing.

The only real moment of danger came in the form of a thunderous shot from Mark van Bommel which threatened to be a carbon copy of his winning strike at White Hart Lane in August, only for it to fly just over the crossbar.

There were definite signs that England could come back into the game with both Michael Ricketts and Emile Heskey using their considerable physical presence to unsettle the Dutch defence.

England's finest passage of the first period came just after the half hour when a wonderful turn from Vassell saw him skip away down the right before some intricate short passing at pace enabled Steven Gerrard unleash a shot that had the power but not the accuracy to unsettle Edwin van der Sar.

However, the Fulham man was more than a little unsettled after 38 minutes when a perfectly weighted volleyed-cross on the run from Gary Neville (on his 50th appearance for his country) saw van der Sar just manage to scrabble to ball away down to his right.

Sven-Goran Eriksson took the chance of a friendly game against one of the most talented sides in the world to blood three of England's young hopefuls in the build up to this summer's World Cup Finals in Korea and Japan and they did not disappoint.

What a pleasure it was to see players of the enthusiasm and youth of Wayne Bridge, Michael Ricketts and Darius Vassell all making their debuts in such a wonderful atmosphere as that provided by the Amsterdam Arena. The only shame was that Tottenham's hugely impressive Ledley King was unable to join the trio in gaining their first caps at Senior England level on account of the throat condition that prevented him from leaving the team hotel.

And, after Sven had admitted earlier in the week that this was the perfect time to experiment, England also fielded a new-look system.

A 4-3-3 system which united Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and David Beckham at the heart of England's midfield seemed to suit the players well and there was an air of enjoyment which exuded from the team as they increasingly imposed themselves on their hosts.

The game was something of a hybrid: a hard fought-contest which also had a friendly feel. Many of the players obviously know each other from their time in England (it was nice to see Sander Westerveld enjoying catching up with Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey prior to the game and all three would have appreciated the decision to play 'You'll Never Walk Alone' just before kick-off), while the reception that England captain David Beckham received from both sets of fans before the game was ample testimony the excitement with which the locals had been anticipating the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson's team.

Yet, with all the England players desperate to show Mr Eriksson that they are worthy of a place on plane to Korea and Japan, not to mention setting the record straight having been outplayed by the same opposition as recently as August, there was no way that England were going to accept defeat willingly.

The England coach made four changes at the interval and the fresh blood certainly gave the visitors the impetus they were looking for - Edwin van der Sar was forced into action no less than four times in the second half before Vassell's 61st minute strike.

First Vassell himself signaled his intentions with a vicious snap-shop that forced a desperate parry from the home 'keeper before the former Juventus stopper dived full length to keep out David Beckham's free-kick on 50 minutes.

Then, on 55 minutes, van der Sar made an outstanding double save. Having bravely dived at the feet of the marauding Kevin Phillips who was hoping to latch onto a David Beckham header, he was up again in a flash to deny the onrushing England captain who had expected to plant the ball into an empty net.

However, there is only so much one man can do and there can be no questions asked of the Dutch 'keeper about Vassell's goal, such was the cleanness of his close range strike.

England went on to look like the hungrier side and the one more likely to find a winning goal on the night, with Gareth Southgate unfortunate to see his firm header ripple the side-netting.

Holland were disappointing. With players of the calibre and ambition of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert and Mark van Bommel in their starting line up, they failed to deliver what their talent promised. Only once - when Davids and Kluivert suddenly swept into top gear in a lightning 60 yard dash - did they look like the potent force they have the ability to be.

However, now that Dick Advocaat has been re-installed as Head Coach, they will be hoping that tonight's match can signal the start of a new era.

Certainly England's new era under Eriksson continues to be alive and well. He will have seen enough this evening to look forward to the World Cup Finals safe in the knowledge that the young talent coming through the ranks can further strengthen his already impressive hand.

Before the game, Sven had wondered out loud if his new call-ups could handle the pressure of top-level international football and, though - in every sense - Korea and Japan is a long way from a friendly in Holland, it is probably fair to say that this might not be the last time we see messrs Bridge, Ricketts and Vassell in an England shirt.

Holland: Van der Sar, van Bronckhorst, Frank de Boer (Paauwe 69), Reiziger, Ricksen, Cocu (Boateng 46), van Bommel (Davids 46), Ronald de Boer (Sikora 59), Overmars (Makaay 88), Kluivert, van Nistelrooy (Hasselbaink 64).

Subs Not Used: Westerveld, Melchiot.

England: Martyn (James 46), Gary Neville (Phil Neville 77), Campbell (Southgate 46), Ferdinand, Bridge (Powell 46), Beckham, Gerrard (Butt 77), Scholes (Joe Cole 77), Heskey, Vassell (Lampard 77), Ricketts (Phillips 46).

Subs Not Used: Wright.

Att: 48,500

Ref: Laurent Duhamel (France)

From Daniel Freedman in the Amsterdam Arena.