Basle, Switzerland  - Russian coach Guus Hiddink said Friday he is hoping to become a traitor.

The Dutchman, who took Russia to their first Euro quarter-finals since 1988, will be facing his native Netherlands in Basle on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

"I hope to be a big traitor tomorrow. Maybe in Holland they won't let me in afterwards, but I don't mind, I am used to that."

He praised his team. "This team really wants to work hard. It is a hard-working team. Our attack is not always successful, but they try very hard."

He said that he had been impressed with the way the Dutch side had played at the tournament. "There have been perfect performances of the Dutch team. They did and they do very well. Everyone enjoys watching the Dutch team."

Hiddink, who took the Netherlands to the semis of the 1998 World Cup - repeating the feat four years later with South Korea - and Australia to the second round in Germany in 2006, said he was not concerned about becoming a hero in Russia.

"I do not think that way, that if I win against the Netherlands I will become a hero."

He praised the Dutch team and Bondscoach Marco van Basten. "I think in the recent decades Holland has developed wonderful players. That's why I am proud to play this game, because there are lots of players I coached.

"I know van Basten rather well. He is the best in Holland and he is a great man too.

"When I was with the Dutch federation, we decided that too many of the top players were disappearing after their careers. They were then given an opportunity to do their license faster than the normal six years.

"Van Basten was one of them. He has achieved a remarkable amount in a short time. He has managed to achieve a lot with the national side and it is a huge responsibility."

He admitted that he did not go into the game light-hearted. "I am scared as hell. That's why we have to attack. The Dutch team likes to play forward, they like to be dominant.

"The Russian team has recently changed a lot. We will see how we do when you are playing against one of the best teams in the world," he said.

He said playing against the Oranje would be very different than playing against the Swedes. "The Swedes play more or less in the same way always. They are more predictable.

We now have to find where we can hurt the Netherlands. "Every team has its weak points, it is necessary to find the weak points of an opponent." (dpa)