Van Persie out, Sneijder to start

Tuesday 31 March 2009

By stepping out into the world with a big smile on his face Wesley Sneijder indicated on Monday that he does not want to be a killjoy in the Dutch national football team.

On Wednesday a start against Macedonia is a good prospect.

When they come out of the locker rooms on Monday Sneijder senses perfectly well where the TV-cameras are.

With a big smile on his face he walks out onto the field, in the middle of the shot of Dutch TV.

It's a perfectly times smile, made possible by a joking Mark van Bommel.

Sneijder knows the rules of the game, two days after his hasty exit from the Amsterdam Arena that caused a storm of indignation among Dutch football fans, even though many were considerate as well.

He had trouble shaking off the disappointment of being on the bench against Scotland, but yesterday he realized that the eyes of the nation are on him.

No one at the Dutch team blamed him for his chagrin, but on Monday focus had to be on Wednesday's game against Macedonia.

"And such is the case," said Sneijder, who found out his chances to start have been seriously increased now that Robin van Persie is out with a groin injury.

"I was angry on Saturday,that's correct. But the anger is gone now. On Wednesday there's another game and that is what counts now."

Whether his bright stance is acted or not is a matter of minor concern.

Sneijder is trying to show he does not want to be a killjoy.

Especially now that competition in the front line of the Dutch team is murderous Bert van Marwijk does not need any fractious players on the road to South Africa.

Even less so during the tournament itself.

Those who can not deal with disappointment have a problem, Van Marwijk indicated last week.

"I think I behaved professionally on Saturday, but that does not mean I enjoy sitting on the bench in a packed Arena," Sneijder said.

"Before and during the game I said or did nothing out of the ordinary. Anyone can confirm that. I was disappointed and after the game I had to let it all out. It was nothing but that. Three or four years ago that would have been different. Then I sometimes reacted unwise. But I have learned a thing or two as well."

If that's so then Holland have won in important game.

An outburst of Sneijder or any other player does not have to be a problem, as long as it doesn't linger.

During Euro 2008 macho behavior of Sneijder and Van Persie was a subject.

And that is why Van Marwijk wants to keep everyone on board on the road to the World Cup, helped by a strong, self-regulating unit.

For that matter it was a strong signal that all players backed Sneijder on Saturday, each single one of them showing consideration for his anger.

The midfielder himself yesterday added a suitable answer by professionally hiding his discontent.

"Why I walked off the pitch so quickly on Saturday? Because I already had Wednesday's game in mind," Sneijder says with a smile.

"What should I have done? Go around the stadium celebrating?

During Monday's team meeting Van Marwijk addressed Sneijder heart ache briefly.

"Not as a problem, or anything," Sneijder said.

"We just talked about in the group, but it wasn't a big issue. We are a team and that's it."

With Van Persie's injury Van Marwijk has solved itself for the time being as for the Macedonia game Sneijder is his logical replacement.

Against Scotland Van Marwijk opted for Robben on the left, at the expense of Sneijder, as Van Marwijk had no doubts whatsoever about the the positions of Kuyt and Van Persie.

"Arjen brought us some depth on the left and that worked out well," Sneijder had seen it as well.

"So you will not hear me say that I should have been on the position of Robben. I can play on any of the three positions behind the center forward, as far as I am concerned. I don't care where. Against Scotland the coach could have played me at center back."

He heard that he wasn't part of the team two hours before the game.

"I had reckoned with it, but still assumed I would play. I didn't agree. Now my reaction afterwards wasn't the wisest thing to do, but hey I am that sort of guy. Of course I knew there is stiff competition. We simply have a lot of good players. Everyone will have to deal with that. Yes, me too."