Netherlands

Answers from Bert!!

It was a bit of a hassle, but your roving reporter was able to slip some questions to the Oranje delegation in Sydney.

Here’s some answers .

1. Why don’t you feel it’s time to look seriously at preparing replacements for Gio and Ooijer?

“I will look seriously at replacements if the players concerned don’t perform at their clubs or with Oranje. Gio van Bronckhorst is our skipper and I am very happy with his contribution, both on the pitch and in the dressing room. Gio is the first to scrutinize his own role in the team. Ooijer is despite his age one of the toughest and most focused central defenders we have. In my gameplan, defenders need to be able to defend, first and foremost. The criticism that Ooijer isn’t the best builder is understandable but with Mathijsen, Gio and the two holding midfielders I don’t think we should worry about that too much. Having said that, I’m confident that with Heitinga, Boulahrouz, Loovens, Marcellis and maybe other players in the future we do not have to be too pessimistic about our defence.”

2. Do we need to play 4-2-3-1 religiously? Or do you see it as an option to play 4-3-3 when we play, for instance, Brazil?

“I don’t believe in systems. I believe in a starting system, but I want and expect our players to be able to adapt during the game. Football isn’t static and using different players in different positions will alter the system. If you play Huntelaar as striker, you’ll get different dynamics than when you play Van Persie centrally. I think we’ve proven in recent games that we can alter our gameplan during the match.”

3. Could you name the most important positives and the most important negatives you’ve witnessed during the qualifications games?

“Pfff…the most important positive is the fact that these players are highly committed and focused and want to win prizes. Raw talent is simply not enough and most players work in environments where results are demanded. The most important negative in qualification games and friendlies, to me, is that you do need an opponent who wants to play football in order to play good. If we don’t get space to play, even if it’s against lesser nations, it’s hard to break open a game.”

4. Why did Loovens have to go to the stands for the Scotland game? Did he fail against Japan?

“Loovens didn’t fail against Japan. I know him well and I think he’s ready for Oranje. I don’t need to see him play in matches per se, I can see that at training as well. I wanted to finish our qualifications series with the team that won the ticket to South Africa. That’s why Ooijer played. And he played well.”

5. Is it true that there are some disciplinary issues with Wesley Sneijder?

“Not at all! That’s just the media making things up. They see a player being agitated because he doesn’t play. I think that’s good, as long as the player behaves within the framework we set up for the team. Wesley Sneijder is a true professional. We don’t have any issues with players, quite simply because I select players on that basis. Someone who can’t be part of the team doesn’t belong in it. Next question?”.

6. Could you elaborate about the team building aspects of Oranje and the behaviour in the dressing room regarding the players’ relationships?

“Ah…well….most players know each other well. They played together at club level or they spent time together with Oranje. You get a sort of dynamic. Players know which other players are grumpy in the morning, so they leave them be. Or they understand that some players are highly critical during matches, but they also know that is over once the game is over. They’re all pro’s. Some are friends, some aren’t. It’s not important, really.”

7. Would it be an option to move Sneijder back to the holding position?

“It is and it isn’t. I know Sneijder could play holding midfielder, but I have so many great options for those spots, so I can play Sneijder at the position he plays best: playmaker.”

8, With build up a bit of a worry with Oranje, is it an option for you to try Van Bommel as libero? If not, why not?

“I don’t believe in changing winning teams. Mark van Bommel knows how to build up, but so does De Jong and so does Mathijsen. Those players can sort it out in their little triangle on the pitch. That dynamic is actually working well. Building up is not just fixed on the player at the back, it’s also depended on the movement up front.”

9. Does Seedorf have a chance to travel to the WC as a squad member?

“Pfff… Seedorf has the quality as a player, but I don’t think he will be a starter normally. If all players are fit, Seedorf would be a sub. And that’s a role that doesn’t fit him. But, in theory, he could be a squad member, although it’s not relevant today.”

10. If Ruud gets fit, will you regard him as a potential starter or merely as a sub?

“Ruud resigned from international duties. If he decides to become available, we’ll take it from there.”

11. Are Emanuelson and Drenthe close to selection?

“They are both on our long-list. We see them in action regularly, although Drenthe doesn’t play too often. In order to be close to selection they need to play a series of good games and I need to have a problem in the current squad that needs fixing.”

12 Would we able to play with just one holding midfielder?

“We would be and we have done so. Whenever the holding midfielders see space or the opportunity to move up, they will. It’s all about balance and it’s all about the right decisions at the right times. When you’re 2-0 up against a strong opponent and there’s only 15 minutes to play, I want my holding midfielders to hold the fortress. If we’re 0-1 down and there’s 15 minutes on the clock, there’s other circumstances and therefore other choices to be made.”

13 Is our defense good enough to stop C Ronaldo and/or Messi?

“I think so. But, a Messi or Ronaldo in top form will be hard to stop from being dangerous. But it’s a team effort and a team sports. Stopping Messi is something you do as a team… And sometimes, attack is the best defense. I’m sure Argentina and Portugal would equally worry about stopping our forwards.”

14. What have you learned from the recent qualification and friendly games?

“That winning and losing at this level are very close. The game against England was typical, despite all the friendly aspects. We forced them into making errors and we’re 2-0 up. They add some spice to their game, we make mistakes and we’re at 2-2. There’s a number of teams that could go for gold in South Africa, and we’re one of them. But it’s not about the best players or the biggest names or who won the Champions League. It’s going to be about little details. Oranje could lose against a lesser team and at the same time we can win against any other nation. We need to make sure we’re sharp from day 1 and we need to keep that winning streak. There are no simple games anymore.”

15. Are you happy with where Oranje is today or is it still a work in progress?

“Both, I’m happy where we are. I’m happy with the group mentality and I think we have a pretty good generation of players and a good mix of young, old, experienced, unpredictable, tough, creative… Despite what people say about our defense for instance, I think most coaches are jealous of our players. But you’re never there, you know. It’s always a work in progress. The big challenge is to gel the team together for a peak performance in the summer of 2010. And I can’t do that all by myself or with my staff. The circumstances at club level are crucial too, but most importantly: do the players want to go the distance.”

16. Do you already have your ideal line up for the WC in mind?

“You sometimes allow your mind to drift, but it’s impossible to set things in stone right now. All tournaments have shown that surprises will occur at the last stages. The skeleton is there, the key players are known, but again, it’s in the details. And I also think we might see different players for different opponents. If we win the World Cup, it’ll be with 22 players and our wonderful staff, including the doctors, the chefs, the media people and not the least the Oranje supporters.”

17. Do we actually have a chance to win the World Cup?

“We do, but that’s under specific circumstances. I think there’s around 8 or 10 nations who have the quality to do well, and we’re among them. But it takes more. Some of it, you can manage and plan for. Other aspects, like the draw or luck, you need to just recieve, you know. We can do everything right, but not win it. But if you don’t do everything right, you won’t win it. It’s that simple. But we want to win it. That’s for sure. And that’s part of the equation, we believe.”