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Van Marwijk will have to disappoint players
Friday 27 March 2009
Never before in his career as coach
of the Dutch national football team Bert van Marwijk
has had so many fit players at his disposal as he has
now ahead of the World Cup qualification games against
Scotland and Macedonia.
That is why the bondscoach
emphasized tat the players must be able to accept being
disappointed.
"We will never be world champions
when players are unable to live with a place on the
bench," Van Marwijk said.
Van Marwijk doesn't see it as a
luxury problem that he has so many good forwards in
his squad.
"Drop the 'problem'. It is
pure luxury," he said.
"Of course I will have to
disappoint players. And those players should be angry
, but they must accept my decision. Such things are
also part of it. Whether you like it or not."
The 21-piece squad of the Dutch
team for the games with Scotland (Saturday) and Macedonia
(Wednesday) contains no less than eight renowned offensive
players.
"And only four of them will
start," Van Marwijk looked ahead.
"So for four of them I have
bad news."
Van Marwijk will actually only
have to disappoint one forward.
Ibrahim Afellay and Ryan Babel
already realise that they will have to settle for a
place on the bench and Rafael van der Vaart will not
claim he starts as he he is hardly playing at Real Madrid.
That leaves Van Marwijk with Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder
and Dirk Kuyt for four positions.
Of these five Kuyt wasn't fully
fit this week..
"His hamstring was bothering
him a bit," Van Marwijk said.
"But he trained normally on
Thursday."
The Dutch team trained behind closed
doors in the Amsterdam Arena on Thursday.
Van Marwijk: "I think that
the players will know by now who will start. But at
the moment I can only reveal that Maarten Stekelenburg
will be the keeper. André Ooijer is is ready
to play, his groin trouble is over."
Compared to the previous games
Van Marwijk will have to chose another right-back as
John Heitinga has a little crack above his eye cavity
and is out for Saturday.
The Atletico Madrid defender will
be replaced by Dirk Marcellis, Khalid Boulahrouz or
Gregory van der Wiel.
Of these three only Van der Wiel
plays on that position for his club every week.
Van Marwijk has more alternatives
for the positions of the two holding midfielders.
He is very happy about Mark van
Bommel and Nigel de Jong.
But Stijn Schaars and Demy de Zeeuw
achieve a high level every week at AZ and seem ready
to take over if needed.
If Holland manage to beat Scotland
on Saturday than they will increase the gap to eight
points.
"And that is our aim. Of course
we will play to win, but we will have to be a little
bit cautious. I expect they will come here to defend
and wait for a mistake on our side. We know what's coming."
Record:
Scotland and Holland head-to-head
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