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Problem-stricken Oranje pursueing records

June 2nd, 2009 | By: Jan | 11 Comments »

Only a short while back Oranje had too many great players for the four forward positions. Bert van Marwijk picked his starters on the basis of little details. Van der Vaart, Afellay and Sneijder were told to take a seat next to the coach on the bench.

It’s only two months later and the team manager can be happy that he has at least on fit player for the forward spots when Oranje prepares for another international week.

Dirk Kuyt is the only player who did what he has been doing the whole season: be fit and stay in glorious form. The rest all have issues: some private matters, others football-related, and some have both.

Ibby Afellay already declared himself unfit to join Oranje this week. This week, Wesley Sneijder informed his manager at Oranje that he won’t be ready for Iceland and Norway. The Madrid midfielder is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Robin van Persie’s state will have to be seen, what with his operation in Paris on his wisdom teeth.

Right after this weekend, the Oranje internationals on Real Madrid’s payroll will hear whether they’re part of Madrid’s future or whether they can start calling a removal company. As off Monday, Florentino Perez is the new Boss and he definitely doesn’t want to hold on to all Dutch players. In Liverpool, Ryan Babel is a question mark since he again wasn’t able to secure a starting position.

Bert van Marwijk is on top of things, but doesn’t want to worry. “We know by now that there’s always players smiling and there’s players not smiling when they enter the Players’ hotel.”

“Oranje or their club, they’re different worlds and players need to leave their club suit at their club. Till now, Oranje has a rejuvenating effect on them. See Huntelaar in Tunisia. The lads from England and Germany came in to the sessions last week and I could tell that they realize it’s not yet vacation time.”

Sneijder’s absence is not a surprise for Van Marwijk. “I saw the game inwhich he copped that injury and I could tell it was serious. It’s now five or six weeks down the road and he still hasn’t trained properly with the group. The only time he tried he got a reaction in his hamstring. We took the decision to drop him on Thursday, jointly. It’s a setback, sure. We’ve all seen what he can do against Macedonia. He’s the ideal man to translate my wishes onto the pitch.”

Van Marwijk’s selection has one debutant in Eljero Elia. The Twente winger showed the Oranje staff what most fans already knew. “Elia is a fresh player, who deserves his selection. I probably would have picked him even if all the rest was available. I would have taken 23 players along instead of 22.”

Last weekend, Van Marwijk also checked out Hedwiges Maduro at Valencia, but since Oranje’s midfield doesn’t have any personnel issues, Van Marwijk decided not to select him.

Oranje can get two new records against Iceland on June 6. Oranje hasn’t lost against Iceland in nine games. Cyprus is the other country that couldn’t get a point against Holland in nine games. If Oranje wins, a new record is there. Another record looming is the fact that Holland can become the only nation to win eight away games on the trot in a WC qualification. Five years ago, Oranje wasn’t able to win for the last time. Macedonia kept Oranje in 2004 at 2-2.

Tags: Group C, Kuijt, Kuyt, Oranje, Van Marwijk, van Persie

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Comments

By sonneveld | June 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 am

this wisdom teeth thing is very funny

I am making a video about AZ midfield power. It is about schaars and de zeeuw right now. Should I add mendez da silva in the video. Is he a key component of their midfield?

By finnster01 | June 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 am

Pellegrino anyone?

Something tells me he is going to bottle it at real…

By Jeroen | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 am

Dirk Kuyt is one tough dude. I think he should transfuse some of his blood to Robben and van Persie. I just hope his looks doesn’t carry on to them as well!

There was a possibility of VDV going back to Ajax, but he has now stated that he wants to stay abroad for a couple more years.

I am looking forward to see Elia in action. Let’s see if he can put some pressure on Robben’s position .

Posted from Netherlands

By Jeroen | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am

some things i forgot to mention:

VDV hopes to stay at Real and wants a starting position. Might be possible since the new coach thinks very highly of him (and tried to sign him for villareal a while back).

It seems almost certain now that Braafheid is going to Ajax to replace Vermaelen. This would be absolutely terrific. Braafheid left, v.d. Wiel right. That’s some good wingbacks right there.

It’s still looming in the air whether Elia will go to Ajax or somewhere else.

In any case, having Jol at Ajax certainly makes players more willing to come. I’m excited about next season already…

Posted from Netherlands

By finnster01 | June 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm

@Jeroen: Despite what my friend Tiju will say, I am totally amazed at the fitness level of Kuyt. OK, we all knew he could run like an endless loop, but he is also never injured. And that is playing in the English Prem which is full of butchers left right and center, week in and week out. Imagine all the kicks and knocks he gets in a game.

He should write a book about conditioning and strength building because he seems to have got it right.

Never seen anything like it. Talk about the Energizer bunny, this guy just keep running and running and….

By finnster01 | June 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm

So here is the latest information on Norway leading up to the qualifiers. They face a must win in Macedonia followed by the Holland match.

The bad news is that they have several injuries. Iversen (Ex Spurs and Wolves and now Rosenborg) is out for the first game but they hope he is fit for Holland. Doesn’t matter really, as Oranje should have qualified already by beating Iceland by then. Also their CB, Reginiussen who is hunted by several EPL teams is out for probably both games. Goalkeeper situation is like Ajax, you don’t know who starts until you go to the game. The team is in a bit of a mess. However, they have the old coach Olsen back who is a bit of a master of getting results.

We’re all playing for second place because Oranje have this all wrapped up and I would not mind if you did us a favour by beating Iceland followed by a pretending to be dead exercise but I know that will never happen.

Either way I will be happy as I will at least have one team to root for in SA in 2010!!!

By Tiju | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm

@finn best of luck to noray

Posted from India

By Tiju | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:15 pm

@finn i have chaged my game plan now after the studying the goal stati of liverpool.it was amazing liverpool scored more goaals than any attacking team in the EPL.kuyt didnt scored too much but his role was crucial.Toress and Steve lead the team by scoring goals but kuyt brilliance in the pitch was undispensible.So i chage the team like this
———–Huntlaar———
Elia——-Vanpersie—-Kuyt
—-Znijder/Vaart—-Dejong——-
Brapheid—Mathjenson–Maduro—Vanderweil
———Steke——–
Super subs
Babel
Roban
Schaars

Posted from India

By Miguel Rosado | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm

Maduro has been very important for Valencias as a defender so I think he should have been called up.

By Miguel Rosado | June 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 pm

Elia seems like a very versatile player. I haven’t seen him much but the only video I watched he gave me the impression of having Ronaldo’s style.

By Jan | June 3rd, 2009 at 6:55 am

Apparently, Kuyt is from a long lineage of sea-faring fishermen. Can you imagine what kind of blokes do that? Get up early, in the cold, on the bloody boat and haulin’ those fish from the nets and all? Cold…wet…tough work…that creates a strong genetic programming.

Van Persie’s dad is an artist. A painter (or sculptor).

Robben’s dad is professional stamp collector!

Just kiddin’ of course… He’s a coin collector.

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