Rafael’s habit to score after injury

Oranje prepared for the Argentina match yesterday in typical fashion. Kuyt scored a beauty on in the training match, De Cler and Jaliens looked a bit overwhelmed and Boulahrouz was all business. Knowing that if he plays well against Argentina and avoids another booking, he could well be the new right full back for the rest of the WC.

Van Basten can at long last have Van der Vaart in the role he designed for him in the first place, before his injury ruined his preparation. The nation will be watching him, but Rafael is used to it. Even though he’s only 23 years old, he has a lot of these “directly back in the squad coz we need you”-experiences under his belt.

He was actually the only player for a long time at Ajax who did not need to get back in rhythm in the youth teams, before playing in the first team. He doesn’t really need that rhythm to do his thing.

In 2002, he came back from a fierce knee-injury to play in the Champions League match against Olympique Lion, to score an important goal. His most famous backheel goal against Feyenoord was also scored just when he got back from injury.

The training confirmed that Van der Vaart will play central in midfield and will play the offensive rol (vs Sneijders’ more controlling role), to support Van Nistelrooy.

Ronald Koeman, ex-Ajax coach, remarked yesterday again that Van der Vaart and Sneijder in the same line-up wouldn’t work. Van Basten: “Nonsense, real good players can always work together. They need to communicate well, that’s all. But look at Cruyff and Van Hanegem. They played extremely well together. Giresse and Platini. Lampard and Gerrard.”

When asked about the tactics to stop Argentina, van Basten said: “Listen, you can adapt to them, because they are so good… Or you can play your own game well, and make them adapt to you. We’ll do the latter…”

(www.ad.nl)