Dutch name new captain but stick to same style
Reuters - Wednesday 01 September 2010, 20:18
AMSTERDAM - Coach Bert van Marwijk has
named his son-in-law Mark van Bommel as the new Netherlands
captain before their opening Euro 2012 qualifier against San
Marino on Friday.
The midfielder takes over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst who
retired after this year's World Cup, where Netherlands lost in
the final to Spain and were widely criticised for their rough
performance during that match.
"We discussed it with the technical staff for minutes before
we decided," Van Marwijk told reporters on Wednesday.
"Mark is the right age and position to do it, while he did
the job in the past at PSV and now at Bayern Munich."
The coach added that his team would stick to the same
playing style that earned them a place in the World Cup final
but lacked the flair that earned them global admiration in the
past.
"There are so many other visions that can lead to success
but if you look around you will see that most top countries and
teams work this way," Van Marwijk said.
"Stability and clearness is the power of my team and players
have to know what they are expected to do when they are needed."
FOUR CHANGES
For the match away to San Marino Van Marwijk will have to
make at least four changes to the team from the World Cup final
seven weeks ago.
In defence Ron Vlaar is expected to replace the suspended
John Heitinga and Vurnon Anita is likely to take Van
Bronckhorst's place.
The choice Van Marwijk has to make in his attack, where he
needs to replace the injured Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben,
will be more difficult.
Eljero Elia, who did well during most of the appearances he
made during the World Cup as a substitute, is likely to replace
Robben but for the position of central striker Van Marwijk has
three options.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar seems the most logical choice, as Dirk
Kuyt is preferred to fill in one of the wing positions, but
since Ruud van Nistelrooy is back in the squad, Van Marwijk
might prefer the 34-year-old who has been in good form for
Hamburg SV.
Van Nistelrooy did not made the World Cup squad but was
recalled after Van Persie pulled out injured.
"I'm glad to be back in the squad after two years, though I
still believe that I could have been valuable during the World
Cup," the striker, who retired from internationals after Euro
2008, told reporters.
"But now I'm more fit and sharp than in May this year so I
fully understood the decision of Van Marwijk.
"There is a chance that if Van Persie is fit again the coach
will not invite me, so I hope to show that I still can be
valuable for this Dutch team."
Probable team:
Netherlands - Maarten Stekelenburg; Gregory van der Wiel,
Ron Vlaar, Joris Mathijsen, Vurnon Anita; Dirk Kuyt, Mark van
Bommel, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel de Jong, Eljero Elia; Klaas-Jan
Huntelaar.
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