Van Basten: spectacle with 4 strikers

In his pre-match press conference Marco van Basten used the term “spectacle”. The team manager thinks it’s highly important to grab the EC ticket in a match with good football and leaving a good vibe for all.

Entertainment with 4 strikers. That’s the idea when Oranje plays Luxembourg in a packed De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam. Oranje started the EC campaign against the bricklayers and teachers from Luxembourg and expects to finish it tomorrow.

But, Oranje could earn the ticket before the game already, if Bulgaria fails to beat Romania.
“We will hear that result of course, but I hope we will mainly focus on our own match. We want to do something wonderful,” Van Basten said.

Van Basten will deploy a 4-4-2 system, with wide offensive players, turning it into 4-2-4 in possession.

Against Slovenia, Van Basten tried this – almost 1950s – concept with a right winger (Van der Vaart), a right inside player (Van Persie), a central striker (Huntelaar), a left inside player (Sneijder) and a left winger (Seedorf). The quick 1-0 by Sneijder should have been the start of something beautiful, but after both Van Persie and Van der Vaart had to be replaced due to injuries the Oranje engine started to sputter. The end result resembled white handkerchiefs for him and the team. “Like the Slovenia game, it makes sense to attack Luxembourg with many strikers. Whether you call it 4-2-4 or 4-4-2, it’s the intention that’s important.”

Today, Van Basten will send 6 players home, to finish the series with 18 men. It’s certain that Van Nistelrooy will be back after his suspension. Van Persie is still injured while Robben is absent as well.

Van Basten wants to give the more creative players all opportunities. He knows that with a fit Van Persie, Sneijder and Van der Vaart in combination with Van Nistelrooy and possibly Robben and Seedorf Oranje could work magic.

Wesley Sneijder: “Although our defensive block cops a lot of criticism, it’s a fact that we do not concede many goals. Only three in this series. And that means to me, that we have a strong and tight defensive block.”

With only two more games to go, no nation has won in Oranje’s group with more than 3 goals difference. Van Basten: “That’s quite a sign. This implies that Romania and Bulgaria also weren’t able to win with big number against the so-called little football nations. It’s not that easy anymore. But we will try it again tomorrow. Who knows, it may work this time around.”