Bert van Marwijk: 20 names are definite…

March 17th, 2010 | by: Jan | Comments(97)

Bert: “Elbows are sooo 2009… Why don’t you bitch slap your opponent, like this!”

Unless they bump into a major injury or something else silly…

Van Marwijk felt that Spain, Brazil and England are among the favorites, but Holland is be too.

“We might not have the word class players at all spots, but like Feyenoord in 2002 (winning the UEFA Cup vs Inter Milan/Borussia Dortmund/Glasgow Rangers/PSV), we might have the better team.”

Van Marwijk did have two question marks, but refused to name names. “The next weeks will be crucial. Who shows form? Who plays regularly? And who is fit…”.

Van Marwijk was keynote speaker at a conference in Sittard. He commented on Afellay’s two elbow-hits against Ajax and the three game ban. “Afellay is not longer an unpredictable talent. He’s the skipper of PSV and international. He needs to know that people observe what he does. And I mean both the referees but also young kids. Let this be a learning moment for him. But I do think that he’ll bounce back from this and wiser too.”

Van Marwijk fears Andre Ooijer’s situations. “This injury normally takes 4 to 6 weeks, but Andre isn’t the youngest anymore, so 8 weeks is possible too. We might have a big problem with him and I am looking at alternatives.”

Ron Vlaar is an option, if he isn’t part of Van Marwijk’s bigger picture, but Glenn Loovens and Roel Brouwers are also in the picture. Van Marwijk confirmed that he saw Brouwers live in the Bundesliga last week and that he’s on the list and being analysed by Van Marwijk’s staff.

The AD newspaper had a forum in the last weeks, with fans shouting out their names for the squad. I scrutinized the input and people don’t get much further then: “Seedorf!”. And others saying: “Nah, Seedorf never did anything in Oranje bar missing penalties.” Another big talking point was the Schaars vs Engelaar debate.

So, it’s time for us to give Bert van Marwijk the official World Cup Blog heads up.

Goalies:
Maarten Stekelenburg
Michel Vorm/Piet Velthuizen
Sander Boschker

Comments: Not ideal. It’s always good to have a more experienced goalie in the mix. Sander Boschker? Hell, Rob van Dijk! So, Bert will need to chose between Vorm of Velthuizen. I wouldn’t know…

Defenders:
Gio van Bronckhorst
Tim de Cler
Joris Mathijsen
John Heitinga
Ron Vlaar
Glenn Loovens
Greg van der Wiel

The more I think about it, the more I feel that Feyenoord has the two best Dutch left backs in the game. Vlaar is a cert. Ooijer won’t come along (he’s out with injury again). Loovens is handy as lock on the door and he can even break something open up front. By taking Loovens, Bert also facilitates Van Persie. Both ex-Feyenoord players are best buds. Heitinga will be the bench option for RB and CB. I can see Mathijsen and Vlaar start.

Holding Midfielders
Mark van Bommel
Nigel de Jong
Demy de Zeeuw
Ibrahim Afellay

If Ibby keeps on developing on the holding spot, he’ll have a chance to make it to the WC. Stijn Schaars is not in good shape (although he was awesome in and against Australia).

Creative midfielders
Arjen Robben
Wes Sneijder
Raf van der Vaart
Eljero Elia
Dirk Kuyt
Robin van Persie

No debate here.

Center Strikers
Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Ruud van Nistelrooy

And no debate here, either. My guess is that Van Nistelrooy is one of the two players who is a question mark for Bert. He’s not a question mark for me. If he’s fit, he should come along. Whether he plays at HSV or not. Having Ruud in the squad is good for the team spirit (natural leader) and he will instill fear in any defender. And I do believe that Ruud can create something ( a goal perhaps? ) when he’s used as a pinch hitter.

And…. Mr X. I leave one spot open for that late surprise. Urby? Leroy Fer? Babel? Brouwers? Bruma? Vennegoor of Hesselink? Siem de Jong? Engelaar? Douglas? Maduro? We’ll have to wait and see… Hell, he might even take Tiju as 23rd man . And link him to Dirk Kuyt as room mate….