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Van Nistelrooy quits international scene
Monday 4 August 2008
Ruud van Nistelrooy is no longer
available for the Dutch national team.
The 32-year-old striker wants to
fully focus on Real Madrid, he told new Holland-boss
Bert van Marwijk.
Van Nistelrooy played for Holland
64 times in which he scored 33 goals.
The man from Geffen made his debut
in Oranje in 1998 in a friendly against Germany (1-1).
This summer he was a major part
of the Dutch team that stranded in the quarterfinals
after some magnificent performances in the group stages.
"When I compared the schedules
of Real and the Dutch team I came to the conclusion
that I - given the load of performing well at this level
- had to make a choice, " Van Nistelrooy said on
Monday.
"The combination of the Spanish
league and cup and the Champions League-games with Real
Madrid on the one side and the matches with the national
team on the other are too much stress for me. I have
no other choice than to quit the national team."
Van Nistelrooij has given the matter
a lot of thought since the European Championships: "Of
course this nt a decision you take lightly. I have a
played a great European Championship that I can look
back on with much satisfaction."
The news of Van Nistelrooy quitting
means a big chance of the guard in Holland's forward
line and much likely a big chance for new man Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar to claim his place.
Van Nistelrooy fact sheet
In Van Nistelrooy
Holland say good-bye to one of their most prolific strikers.
Some facts about
his career in the national team:
Ruud van Nistelrooy makes his debut on 11 November
1998 in an away match against Germany.. Then Holland
boss Frank Rijkaard grants him the full 90 minutes,
but he is unable to score in match Holland totally dominated
but didn't win.
His first international goal comes five months later
in a friendly Holland play in Arnhem against Morocco..
Holland lose 2-1 and Van Nistelrooy scores his first
goal in his first match for Holland a few minutes before
the end.
In 10 years Van Nistelrooy played 64 matches for the
Netherlands, divided as follows: 11 European Championships-qualifications,
15 World Cup-qualifications, 8 matches at European Championship
finals, three games at World Championships finals and
27 friendlies.
In those 64 games Van Nistelrooy scored 33 goals.
In doing so he shares fourth spot on Holland's all time
topscorers list:
| Player |
Era |
Games |
Goals |
| Patrick Kluivert |
1994-2004 |
79 |
40 |
| Dennis Bergkamp |
1990-2000 |
79 |
37 |
| Faas Wilkes |
1946-1961 |
38 |
35 |
| Abe Lenstra |
1940-1959 |
47 |
33 |
| Johan Cruijff |
1966-1977 |
48 |
33 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy |
1998-2008 |
64 |
33 |
| Beb Bakhuys |
1928-1937 |
2 |
28 |
| Kick Smit |
1934-1946 |
26 |
26 |
Van Nistelrooy's goals have taken
ever bigger importance for Holland through the years.
Of his last 12 goals 7 were key as he opened the score
with it.
Under the reign of Marco van Basten Van Nistelrooy
by far was the most productive player. The man from
the province of Noord-Brabant scored 15 goals in the
26 games he played under the former top striker.
His 2 goals at Euro 2008 put him on third spot in
the all time ranking of the topscorers at Euro-finals.
With 6 goals in 8 matches at European Championships-finals
he equaled Portuguese Nuno Gomes, Frenchman Thierry
Henry and fellow Dutchman Patrick Kluivert.
Van Nistelrooy won 38 of his 64 international games.
The 31-year-old forward drew 18 times and lost 12.
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