Date:27/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/27/stories/2006062706332000.htm

Sport - Football

`Van the Man' sat out and watched, painfully

NUREMBERG: The Netherlands proved that winning the World Cup could not be done when the star striker is on the bench.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was kept out of the brutal 1-0 loss to Portugal on Sunday because coach Marco van Basten didn't like his efficiency, with just one goal in three World Cup games.

In a game, which saw about as many chances as the three previous combined, his little-known replacement Dirk Kuyt of Feyenoord failed to convert any. And in the closing moments, when a lone strike still could have saved the Dutch, van Basten preferred to field PSV's Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink. Who?

At the same time, the Manchester United icon called "Van the Man" for his scoring proficiency sat, unused.

"I am ready to do it for my country but if you don't get a chance you cannot do anything," said van Nistelrooy, doing little to blunt his criticism of a coach who had seen him as a key to success for so long.

Van Basten offered no apologies for his shock decision.

"We tried Kuyt as the centre forward and Venn of He because we changed type of play. But with little space it is difficult to play soccer,'' said Van Basten. Yet creating something out of nothing in the box is van Nistelrooy's trademark and season upon season in the Premier League he's proven he can do it. "He knows what I can do," said van Nistelrooy.

In the end, the most dangerous move came from trusty veteran Phillip Cocu who forced himself briefly in the centre forward position and rifled a shot onto the bar in the 48th minute.

In the end, the Dutch World Cup campaign may well have unravelled when van Basten suddenly started criticising his top forward in the wake of Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Argentina.

"I spoke to him about it. For me, it was painful," said van Nistelrooy.

So the Dutch leave Germany, having shown little of the flair which the world has come to love and in the knowledge that defence alone wins you nothing.

Van Basten's team conceded only two goals in four games and with a young line-up playing exactly to his instructions, the Dutch were one of the best at the World Cup.

"We played some good games and had some good moments against big opponents," he said.

Up front, it sputtered.

Van Basten was happy more about the return of speedy winger Arjen Robben, who was named man of the match in the Netherlands' two opening wins. He was rested for the scoreless draw against Argentina on Wednesday.

Yet, Robben never got close to scoring on Sunday. — AP