par François » 09 juin 2004 15:48
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Players force Advocaat about-turn
Theo Ruizenaar
ALBUFEIRA, Portugal, June 9 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has decided to change tactics after a discussion with four leading players and will start with wingers in the opening Euro 2004 match against Germany on Tuesday.
Advocaat: Talks with players (AdamDavy/Empics)
Advocaat told reporters on Wednesday he would change from a 4-4-2 system to 4-3-3 following two friendly defeats in eight days.
He denied he had been forced into the changes by the players - the Dutch have a history of falling out among themselves before and during major tournaments.
'This was no discussion, it was a monologue,' Advocaat said. 'I think this team will perform better with wide players.'
He would not say which players he had consulted, although midfielder Philip Cocu said he was one, adding that the chat had lasted about 45 minutes.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is likely to play as the lone striker in any 4-3-3 formation. Andy van der Meyde, Marc Overmars and Arjen Robben will provide the width, though all three have minor injury worries.
Advocaat, renowned for his cautious approach, is in his second spell as Dutch coach and will be desperate to avoid a split appearing in his squad over tactics.
Advocaat was in charge for the 1994 World Cup and in the run-up to the tournament in the United States the coach failed to create a tight unit.
After a friendly against Scotland influential midfielder Ruud Gullit argued with his coach about tactics.
Advocaat followed his own plan and Gullit left the training camp in disgust before the start of the tournament, signalling the end of his international carer.
During the tournament Advocaat failed to find the ideal mixture with experienced players like Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Jan Wouters, and a large contingent of Ajax Amsterdam players who won the Champions League a year later.
Advocaat ignored the young, talented players while he proved incapable of using the more experienced ones in the right way.
Before the finals in Portugal the same problems appear to be happening in the Dutch camp, and friendly defeats by Belgium and Ireland have shaken confidence among the players.
When Mark van Bommel dropped out injured Advocaat picked 34-year-old Paul Bosvelt, who spent half his season on the bench at Manchester City, instead of 19-year-old Nigel de Jong.
Advocaat's style has been widely criticised, by Gullit and AZ Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse among others.
Adriaanse said in an interview last week: 'It is impossible that the Dutch will win a title with Advocaat as coach.
'Advocaat will never lose a match 5-0. He excludes any risks and like that you never win a title,' said Adriaanse.
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Players force Advocaat about-turn
Theo Ruizenaar
ALBUFEIRA, Portugal, June 9 (Reuters) - Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has decided to change tactics after a discussion with four leading players and will start with wingers in the opening Euro 2004 match against Germany on Tuesday.
Advocaat: Talks with players (AdamDavy/Empics)
Advocaat told reporters on Wednesday he would change from a 4-4-2 system to 4-3-3 following two friendly defeats in eight days.
He denied he had been forced into the changes by the players - the Dutch have a history of falling out among themselves before and during major tournaments.
'This was no discussion, it was a monologue,' Advocaat said. 'I think this team will perform better with wide players.'
He would not say which players he had consulted, although midfielder Philip Cocu said he was one, adding that the chat had lasted about 45 minutes.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is likely to play as the lone striker in any 4-3-3 formation. Andy van der Meyde, Marc Overmars and Arjen Robben will provide the width, though all three have minor injury worries.
Advocaat, renowned for his cautious approach, is in his second spell as Dutch coach and will be desperate to avoid a split appearing in his squad over tactics.
Advocaat was in charge for the 1994 World Cup and in the run-up to the tournament in the United States the coach failed to create a tight unit.
After a friendly against Scotland influential midfielder Ruud Gullit argued with his coach about tactics.
Advocaat followed his own plan and Gullit left the training camp in disgust before the start of the tournament, signalling the end of his international carer.
During the tournament Advocaat failed to find the ideal mixture with experienced players like Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Jan Wouters, and a large contingent of Ajax Amsterdam players who won the Champions League a year later.
Advocaat ignored the young, talented players while he proved incapable of using the more experienced ones in the right way.
Before the finals in Portugal the same problems appear to be happening in the Dutch camp, and friendly defeats by Belgium and Ireland have shaken confidence among the players.
When Mark van Bommel dropped out injured Advocaat picked 34-year-old Paul Bosvelt, who spent half his season on the bench at Manchester City, instead of 19-year-old Nigel de Jong.
Advocaat's style has been widely criticised, by Gullit and AZ Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse among others.
Adriaanse said in an interview last week: 'It is impossible that the Dutch will win a title with Advocaat as coach.
'Advocaat will never lose a match 5-0. He excludes any risks and like that you never win a title,' said Adriaanse.
