Basel: Russia’s Dutch coach Guus Hiddink gave goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar his debut for The Netherlands and could also be the man to end his international career.

The pair come face to face when their sides meet in their Euro 2008 quarter final in Basel and Van der Sar has said he will hang up his international boots at the end of the finals.

“Edwin van der Sar has had a tremendous career,” Hiddink said of the 37-year-old The Netherlands captain whom he handed a debut to in 1995. “I know him rather well, he’s the best I think in Holland. He’s also a very responsible and very intelligent man. I have enjoyed his performances very much, and I will — minus one.”

Hiddink coached The Netherlands from 1994 to 1998, taking the country to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals.

Van der Sar is playing in his sixth major tournament. His first three ended in penalty shoot-out defeats — at Euro 96, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. (REUTERS)