Marco van Basten is confident Holland will be fully prepared should Sunday night's World Cup knockout clash with Portugal come down to penalties.

The Dutch failed in shoot-outs in both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 semi-finals and given the slender margins between success and failure in the modern game, it is unlikely Holland will lift the trophy for the first time in Berlin on July 9 without coming through at least one penalty competition.

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle opted not to force his players to practise penalties prior to the 1998 World Cup, claiming it was impossible to create the unique circumstance under which the kick will be taken at the end of a match.

The move had disastrous consequences as England went out to Argentina in a shoot-out.

And, as a former striker himself, Van Basten prefers a more orthodox approach.

"We always practise penalties," he said. "If you are in a position where, at some point, you will have to take a penalty, then you have to train yourself to get into a certain rhythm to take the kick.

"It is a very stressful situation and something you must be ready to deal with.

"Tennis players are already able to serve but you still see them practising again and again. The more you practise, the better you become and if your mind is right, you have an even better chance to get a positive result."

Van Basten believes he will have a lot of willing candidates eager to try their luck should the need arise in Nuremberg as Holland look to seal a quarter-final meeting with either England or Ecuador.

He will also be reliant on Edwin van der Sar to make the saves on the night the veteran Manchester United keeper makes a record 113th appearance for his country.

After a series of impressive displays during a tough group phase, which they finished unbeaten, Van Basten acknowledges Holland are approaching the Portugal encounter in confident mood.

Only five players remain from the team which were denied a place in the Euro 2004 final by Portugal and the place of one of those, Ruud van Nistelrooy, is under threat following the emergence of Dirk Kuyt.

Despite public warnings from the coach over Van Nistelrooy's form, it would be a major surprise if Holland went into the game without their senior striker, especially as Van Basten expects the contest to be close.

"I would rate it as a 50-50 game," he said.

"We both play with similar styles and we have both done well in the group stage.

"I don't think you could say who was going to win with any certainty who is going to win. It really is in the balance."