Van Basten makess Dutch media co-responsible for Dutch success

June 14th, 2006 | By: Jan | 5 Comments »

Three days for the second WC match of Holland against Ivory Coast, Marco van Basten came with an extraordinary request during the Thuesday press conference. He asked the Dutch media to support his interests in the Dutch team and Dutch football in general. “I want all noses to head in the same direction”, van Basten used the old Dutch proverb. “It’s in every one’s interest when we perform well. Also in the interest of the press. We all want this team to do well, don’t we?”.

Van Basten came with this request after an innocent and positively meant remark by Van Persie about Robben was exaggerated greatly in the foreign press. Spanish journalists only wanted to talk about the first Oranje row of the WC event. The German Bild – never too busy to pay attention to slut and gore – came with their firm diagnose: the first rift in Oranje was there.

In truth, van Persie and Robben are still good mates. The Arsenal player only wanted to comment – naieve as he still is – on the potential of Oranje, once Robben opens his eyes more for other players to involve in his brilliant play.
The Dutch media, who concurred with van Persie’s comments, wrote the quote down in a nuanced way. Foreign press, on the other hand, smelled blood and almost created the first drama. Van Basten went on: “YOu are free to do and say what you want. But, you know how foreign journalists love these kind of things and they like to find wounds in the Dutch camp to throw salt into. That is partly your responsibility!”

Van Basten remarks resulted in a storm of criticism among the Dutch journalists. “Who the hell does this coach think he is?? (Marco van Basten! – Jan). It’s our responsibility to inform people on what happens and what is said. We can’t help it if others interpret those remarks differently. We determine what we can and can not do…”.

Maybe we do have a first row in the Dutch camp. But it’s between van Basten and the Dutch press… :-)



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Username By Frank | June 14th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
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I completely agree with Van Basten and before he said what he did, I was actually hoping he would comment on the role of the media.

Journalists who criticise Van Basten don’t understand the psychology of the game. If the players feel good, they’ll play well.

Look at the last worldcup, how great teams failed and Korea made it to the quarter finals. Confidence and psychology is the key. And the media plays an important role in this.

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Username By Daniel | June 14th, 2006 at 9:38 pm
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Holland is a very liberal country and to expect for the Media to play nice because you want to win is not also naive, but it’s not going to happen.

The newspapers will continue to call it they way they see it.

The best way to keep the media on your side is to completely outplay the Ivory Coast. :)

Posted from United States United States

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Username By Ted | June 15th, 2006 at 3:46 am
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Van Bastian: I am Impressed!
The last two coaches of the Buffalo Bills would vever have thought of thatl

Posted from Canada Canada

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Username By mikedeg | June 15th, 2006 at 5:37 am
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This sort of tactic worked with tremendous sucess for Wayne Gretzky during the Salt Lake winter olympics in ‘02. Granted, it was later in the tournement, and under slighty different conditions, but i think there are similarities.
Gretzky called a press conference and essentially picked a fight with the entire Canadian sports media, who were unmercifully trashing team Canada due to there substanderd play. The rest is history. Team Canada went on to win gold with some of the finest hockey this fan has ever seen.
I just hope VB didnt play this card too soon.
GO HOLLAND!

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Username By hendrixus | June 15th, 2006 at 8:53 am
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I hope in the next match Meneer Coach can do many thing to synergize all of players to play the truly total football.
Three gold points are very important to reach the next stage.

Posted from Indonesia Indonesia

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