Ruud van Nistelrooy: "Very disappointed"

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Ruud van Nistelrooy will not be part of the Dutch team that will take part in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, this summer.

Holland boss Bert van Marwijk announced the decision not to select Van Nistelrooy today, but the player was informed over the phone by Van Marwijk on Monday.

In an interview on Dutch television Van Nistelrooy on Tuesday night said he was very disappointed about the decision, but added he had expected it.

"Of course I was very disappointed after the phone call I received last night," the former Spanish and English top scorer said.

"I've been in touch with the bondscoach a few times over the past weeks and last week I got the impression that chances to be picked were slim. The forwards that he has worked with during qualifications are all fit. He is sticking to them and that wasn't an advantage for me."'

That doesn't mean however that Van the Man agrees with the decision.

"I have tried to convince him with my performance. He based his decision on that. I have a different opinion. I believe that there were reasons to take me along. I said that to him. I felt that it was going better day by day and that I finished the season on good form."

Van Nistelrooy quit international football after the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland, but last winter he decided to leave Real Madrid for Hamburg to get more playing time and get noticed by Van Marwijk.

"I think the bondscoach should look at how I am doing at the moment and not compare me to what I did before. Can I ad something to the squad compared to the other players? I believe I can. He thinks I can't."

"I have been back on the field for three months now after I was out for a long period. It went well. Better than expected. Now it turns out that the World Cup comes a bit too soon. I'll be supporting them and that it will be a successful campaign."

Even though he doesn't want to rule out playing for Holland in the future completely, the 33-year-old striker knows there's not much chance of a return. And that he has most likely played his last game for Holland in 2008 against Russia.

"It looks that way. In July I'll be 34. I haven't said that I'm not available anymore, but I think that this could be the end. It's up to the coach. I'm not calling it a day. But it could be the end, yes."