Van der Vaart: "The bench is just not my thing"
Rafael van der Vaart dreads a threatening
role in the shadow at the coming World Cup in South
Africa. The midfielder played great when he came on
as a substitute against Ghana, but it seems he will
have to accept being only that in South Africa. "But
when I play as I did against Ghana, I believe I deserve
to start."
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| Rafael van der Vaart (with Robin
van Persie) "When the bondscoach sticks
to the choices he made I will only work very hard
to prove him wrong. That's what I have always done." |
In the 20 minutes Van der Vaart
played against Ghana he scored a goal, stole the show
with a distant shot from the middle line, had an assist
and earned his team a penalty.
But with Bert van Marwijk at the
helm it's been Dirk Kuyt who is a regular on the right
wing, and that keeps Van der Vaart from a place in the
starting lineup.
With Kuyt in the team the Holland
boss wants prevent the team from collapsing when they
have a bad day, as they against Russia during Euro 2008,
and in a way against Portugal during the World Cup 2006.
With a hard worker like Kuyt in
the team there's less chance of that happening than
with the so called 'Big Four' - Robin van Persie., Van
der Vaart, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.
"But the four of us just want
to play together. We believe it's possible," Van
der Vaart says. "On which position I will then
end up is less important. As long as I play."
"As an athlete you always
want to play. During the first half of the season with
Real I spent enough time on the bench. But that's just
not my thing. I just want to play."
He hadn't seen his spot on the
bench against Ghana coming. "No, and I didn't get
an explanation. But that isn't necessary."
Van Marwijk announced that he wants
to play the last two friendlies - against Hungary this
weekend as well - with his potential World Cup team.
"So it's not looking good for me. I can see that.
But on the other hand: in football it's here today,
gone tomorrow. It can all change in an instant."
"When the bondscoach
sticks to the choices he made I will only work very
hard to prove him wrong. That's what I have always done."
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