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Kuyt would still be running…

April 5th, 2008 | By: Jan | 7 Comments »

Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez was clear about who was his most valuable player against Arsenal in the CL quarter finals: the striker who was all over the place. “Kuyt was our Man of the Match,” he said. “He ran and ran and ran… He’d still be running now if we would have played on. He was constantly working and helped his mates where ever he could.”

Arsene Wenger praised the Dutch player as well, albeit a tad sour: “I think Dirk Kuyt played right full back.”

Partly due to Kuyt’s work, Liverpool survived the first leg. The former Feyenoord goalscorer was also responsible for the equalizer. He worked the ball over the line with his physical strength.

PSV was content with the 1-1 draw against Fiorentina. Sef Vergoossen was impressed with the fighting strength of his team, while goal scorer Danny Koevermans was in peace with his substitution.

“Well deserved,” Vergoossen said after the match. “We played good, in certain phases in the game, although there were also phases where we struggled. But, we fought bakc after getting behind. We stepped up to the plate and came back into the game.”

Vergoossen was relaxed about Gomes’ injury and Farfan’s suspension. “With regards to Gomes, we’ll have to wait and see. Tomorrow, we’ll do an echo and then we’ll know more. Till then, we won’t worry too much about the what-ifs. And Farfan’s yellow was a bit unnecessary, but that’s football. It was tense and we had a couple of players who couldn’t handle another yellow, so…that’s the risk of the game.”

Koevermans called this “a good European result”. “Let’s hope my goal turns out to be an important one.” Koevermans was subbed right after his goal. “I’m happy the coach didn’t take me off ten seconds earlier. I told him my calf muscle wasn’t well. I could go on, but I wanted him to know I wasn’t 100%.”

Tags: Danny Koevermans, Dirk Kuyt, Group C, Oranje, Rafael Benitez, The Netherlands

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Comments

By Bob | April 5th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

Hi Jan,

The Liverpool match was broadcast here in the United States by Fox Soccer Sport Network, and I agree with the blog regarding Kuyt. This young man does not have great talent, but he makes up for it with this work ethic and his attitude. Based on what I saw in the match, it would be useful to the Netherlands national team to use him in defense. He is reasonably big,strong, fast, aggressive and never stops trying. Based on the current talent on the national team, they need help in defense and Kuyt could do the job well.

On another matter, you might recall that I complained last fall about the lack of an English language option on the KNVB website. You spoke with someone at KNVB, who said that the “revised and improved” English section would be ready to go in 2008. If you haven’t visited the site recently, let me tell you that the “English” option is in Dutch and basically has been turned into another way to buy Dutch soccer stuff–which items, by the way, are not very attractive. Could you check again with your KNVB contact and try to find out why they are not interested in putting English language NEWS in their web site? You remain the best source of Netherlands football news anywhere on the planet. Thank you!

Posted from United States

By dirk v.d berg | April 5th, 2008 at 9:32 pm

In my personal opinion I think Kuyt deserves a spot in the Euro 2008 squad, even if he only is a sub. He’s hard working, and the only reason I feel he lost his form was because the club had no confidence in him. Last season he was managing to get a start job competing against Crouch (good), and Bellamy (not as good). That off-season Bellamy signs for West Ham, so he would expect to have the job, as he played so well last season, but instead they go out and sign a top quality striker in Torres, and Babel (who could have been perceived as a striker back then), and Kuyt-quality striker in Voronin. What wat the point of playing so hard last season, if they just decide to replace him next season. I personally think Liverpool is insane, for not fielding Crouch as often as they do, and for buying three strikers when they have two, and only play a two striker system.

I think if he keeps this up, he’ll make it into the squad, especially since he’s been playing as a right-attacking midfield in Liverpool’s 4-2-3-1. I would personally take a hard working less talented player, than a player like Robben who plays a game, takes a bump, and misses the rest of the season. And don’t get me wrong Robben’s my favourite player, but I wouldn’t take him into a major competition where you can only have 23 players.

Posted from Canada

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | April 5th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

Kuyt should go to EC 2008 at least as a sub. He doesn´t have a chance as central striker because we have Ruud, Huntelaar and even van Persie can play there too but he can be useful in the right as a hardworker midfielder. I´d rather take him over Landzaat or de Jong.

By Jan | April 5th, 2008 at 11:56 pm

Hi Bob, I will check that again. I agree with you on Kuyt and I’d play Crouch next to Torres anytime. With Babel and Kuyt wide. Although I’m not too convinced of Babel.

Wesley Sneijder scored the first goal for Madrid in their Liga game. It became a 1-1 draw, so some chances for Barca to put the pressure on. Robben played the full 90 minutes.

Posted from Australia

By Robert | April 6th, 2008 at 2:27 am

Kuyt in Liverpool has dropped behind the striker position. Personally I think that is where he belongs regardless. His match against Arsenal was Kuyt in his element IMO. Van Basten was there btw.
I have always thought that what Kuyt could add to the Dutch team has a lot to do with things like attitude and work ethic. In those he is second to none. Behind the striker position Oranje has a lot of talent right now but a lot of them play a reasonably similar style. I would love to see Van Basten take him and I think he is going to surprise us all and do so but not as one of the strikers.
As a striker he is not in the same leaugue as Van Nistelrooy or Huntelaar. Vennegoor of Hesselink is the perfect guy to bring in late in the game so with those guys the striker position is well spoken for.
But he has something to bring to the team and I would love to see him there.
Personally I think the guy that will end up giving up his roster spot to him will be his teammate Babel. As much as I love to see Babel play I don’t think he is ready and I see him falling short a lot in Oranje.
Just my take on it.

By Jan | April 6th, 2008 at 6:46 am

I fully agree with you Robert. Interesting times ahead.

Posted from Australia

By Caleb | April 6th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

I just watched the Real game highlights (I was going to watch the whole game, but I accidentally came on here and saw the score :-S ). Both Robben and Sneijder played very well. Good to see them getting into form again.

Robert – I agree with you that we should give Babel’s slot to Kuyt.. Babel just isn’t convincing lately.

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