Netherlands: Van Basten Gives Robin van Persie Room to Recover

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

Arsenal FC’s player Robin van Persie has been training separately from Netherlands’ squad since joining the training camp on Tuesday. Netherlands’ national football team’s coach, Marco van Basten, decided to allow Robin van Persie to train apart from the rest of the squad in order to give him room to recover from older knee and thigh injuries, which have restricted him all season.

Marco van Basten wants each of his players to be fit for their opening EURO 2008 game against Italy on 9 June. But he can’t afford losing van Persie as a player at EURO 2008, so he decided to make an exception, giving Robin van Persie the necessary time to recover from injuries.

Van Basten will not rush Arsenal FC’s 24-year-old player, as he said that van Persie is “a very special player.”
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Netherlands: Seedorf’s Unexpected Decision to Withdraw Shocks the Oranje

Friday, May 16th, 2008

Clarence Seedorf seems to have decided to shock both his mates and coach Marco van Basten, as the popular player asked on Monday to be withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for UEFA EURO 2008.

“I did not expect this at all,” said coach Marco van Basten. “I told Clarence I have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a football player, but his mind was already made up,” van Basten added.

AC Milan’s midfielder phoned van Basten on Monday night to announce his decision. However, the 32-year-old famous player won’t retire from international football. “It is a decision that comes after serious consideration and months of reflection. Since my return to the national team, the right conditions have not been created to let me perform at my best and to effectively excel as the team member I always strive to be,” Seedorf said in a statement trying to explain his unexpected announcement.

Clarence Seedorf has scored no less than 11 goals in 87 international appearances for the Netherlands squad. It’s been said that he may join the Oranje again after UEFA EURO 2008, when Bert van Marwijk takes over from van Basten.

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