Maduro in no mood to go home

Marcel Vink
Ons Oranje
Saturday 09 August 2008

Hedwiges Maduro admits he should be a bit smarter. Stay down a bit longer when tackled and let someone else move up at a corner or a freekick, just so that he can walk over to the sideline and have a drink of water.

Two days after the opener against Nigeria he is fully recovered, but the question about what went wrong against the Nigerians - Maduro was wasted after only half an hour of play - still bugs him greatly.

And what can he do to prevent it from happening again?

"I have never experienced this in my whole career," the Valencia-midfielder says.

"It was an assault on my body. The stadium was hot, the crowd produced heat and there was some smog. It surprised me. I indicated to the bench that I had no energy left. I mustn't only think about myself but also about the team."

His coach Foppe de Haan has requested the organization to allow drinking breaks.

Maduro is in favor of the suggestion.

"It is necessary. It's better for the players when you can get in some additional water. I sweat quickly, so I need to drink a lot. Gerald Sibon has the same problem."

If that's not possible he will have to consider different tactics.

"When I was watching the highlights of Brazil against Belgium I noticed that the Brazilians stayed down a lot after a tackle. And everyone would come up and drink when the player got treated. Perhaps we should do the same. Get a bit smarter, arm yourselves against these conditions."

Maduro hopes his problem doesn't endanger his place in the team.

"I hope not, but if this happens again... I would like to play as many games as possible. These are the Olympics, I want to go far with the team. No, I'm in no mood to go home."