Right full back; who wants it?

Marco van Basten couldn’t solve the puzzle in four years time and now Bert van Marwijk will have to find a solution. How can we find a stable solution on the right back position?

Bert van Marwijk had a long talk with John Heitinga, after the training. The Atletico defender will start as right full back again. Van Marwijk: “I’m looking for consistency and replacing John after one mistake will not give us that consistency.”

That would be a policy change, with regards to Van Basten’s decisions. He kept on trying out different options. The right full back position has been Van Basten’s biggest problem.

JUNE 2004
Michael Reiziger retires. He plays his last international at Euro2004 and has been Oranje’s right back for nine years.

AUGUST 2004 – FEBRUARY 2005:
Van Basten testes five different players in the first seven games: Nigel de Jong, Khalid Boulahrouz, John Heitinga, Mario Melchiot and Jan Kromkamp.

JUNE 2005:
From out of nowhere, Theo Lucius starts as right back in the crucial games against Romania and Finland. In Helsinki, he gets injred and Mario Melchiot is his replacement.

AUGUST 2005:
Jan Kromkamp starts as right back against Germany. It seems Kromkamp has the best chance to become Oranje’s right back at the 2006 WC.

OCTOBER 2005 – MARCH 2006:
No, Van Basten changes again. Lucius and De Jong sometimes take over from Kromkamp and in March 2006 we see right back no. 7 appear: Kew Jaliens against Equador.

JUNE 2006:
The WC selection has four potential right backs: Jaliens, Kromkamp, Heitinga and Boulahrouz.
Kromkamp was supposed to be the man, but he doesn’t play a single minute and is since then ignored by Van Basten.

AUGUST 2006 – MARCH 2007:
The third season under Van Basten starts with Heitinga on the right. He plays there for three games, until Boulah takes over. He also plays three matches but is replaced by Jaliens who plays two.

JUNE 2007:
During Oranje’s Asia tour, Jaliens gets sick. Melchiot gets his chance and Van Basten is happy with his performance. A full back who can defend but also is able to support the attack.

SEPTEMBER 2007:
Melchiot plays two EC qualification games for Oranje and gets suspended. When he returns, Jaliens has taken his place.

NOVEMBER 2007 – FEBRUARY 2008:
Melchiot is the right back when Oranje qualifies for the EC2008. Melchiot also plays the impressive friendly against Croatia (3-0 win for Oranje).

MARCH 2008:
André Ooijer is tried out. Right back number eight after Reiziger. Ooijer plays four games in a row.

JUNE 2008:
Boulah starts as right back at the EC, in all four games. It looks like a fairytale. No one seemed to want the defender, but suddenly he rules over French and Italian wingers. Build up wise, Boulah doesn’t really add any value.

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2008:
Bert van Marwijk is the new team manager and he selects John Heitinga as the right back.

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