VAN BASTEN: EXPECT 'NO SURPRISES'

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Sportinglife.com
Monday 5 May 2008

Holland coach Marco van Basten has admitted he is unlikely to spring any surprises when he names his provisional squad for Euro 2008 on Tuesday.

The Oranje boss will announce a list of 30 players, which will then be whittled down to 23 by the May 28 deadline set by UEFA.

Van Basten told the Dutch FA's official website, www.knvb.nl, that his squad will probably not contain any unexpected names.

"That would not make sense," said the coach. "We have been able to form a reasonably concrete squad over the past four years. And we are close to the start of Euro 2008.

"The chance of somebody knocking on the Oranje door now is small. So, no surprises, although you can never know what will happen with us, of course."

Van Basten also revealed his team's preparations for the tournament, which will begin three weeks before their opening Group C clash with world champions Italy.

"The first few days we will adjust to a new environment," he explained.

"Each player will come from a different situation and have his own level of fitness. We must get everyone on one line first.

"In the second week things will become more heated and we will do a lot of physical work in Hoenderloo, with training sessions twice a day. All that is baggage for the last week.

"In that week we will take things steadier and prepare for the tournament."