Difficult decisions for Dutch

As the countdown to UEFA EURO 2004™ gathers pace, uefa.com considers what the coming months might hold for the 16 finalists. Today we look at the Netherlands.

By Berend Scholten

Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat has some big decisions to make as he considers his squad selection for UEFA EURO 2004™.

The right blend
Before the Dutch begin their finals campaign on 15 June against Germany, Advocaat will have five friendlies in which to consider his options: the United States, France, Greece, Belgium and South Africa provide the opposition. For Advocaat, these matches should help him find the right blend of established internationals and talented youngsters.

Questions asked
Finding that blend is the key. Serious questions were asked after the 3-1 qualifying defeat in the Czech Republic last September. Before that match, the 'Oranje' remained built around the generation of players who emerged in the
mid-90s. The stars of AFC Ajax's 1995 UEFA Champions
League-winning team - Edwin van der Sar, Frank de Boer, Edgar Davids, Michael Reiziger and Patrick Kluivert - had been fixtures in the team for close to a decade.

Unbeaten run
So long as results were going their way, there was no problem. From Advocaat's first match against England on 13 February 2002, the Netherlands stayed unbeaten for 14 matches. After defeat in Prague, however, which left the Dutch facing a play-off against Scotland, Advocaat's position became a subject of debate.

Defeat in Scotland
When the Netherlands lost the play-off first leg 1-0 in Scotland, all hell broke loose. "Against my instructions, we played backwards. I am not going to give any names because I prefer to discuss this with the players involved," Advocaat said. He recognised, however, that, with both qualification and his own position under threat, he had no choice but to make changes. The main victims were captain Frank de Boer and Kluivert.

Lead role
With youngsters Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart playing important roles in midfield and striker Ruud van Nistelrooij finally given the lead role in attack, the Scots were dismantled 6-0. "This was the right time to rejuvenate the squad. During the [FIFA] World Cup 1994 I made the mistake by maybe keeping in some players for too long," Advocaat said. "I must not make that mistake again."

New contract
While Advocaat is negotiating with the Royal Netherlands Football Association a new contract that will take him up to the 2006 World Cup, the Dutch players recognise a good second half of the season will decide who will go to Portugal. For some, it could be the final showpiece tournament of their careers.

De Boer move
Frank de Boer, his country's most-capped player with 108 appearances, understood this when he left Galatasaray SK to join his twin brother Ronald at Rangers FC. His reasoning was clear. "Advocaat told me that the situation had to change," said the 33-year-old about being left on the bench at Galatasaray. "That is why I signed until the summer of 2004. I have always said that reaching Portugal was my goal."

Dutch enclave
Advocaat will also follow closely developments at FC Barcelona, where there are six potential squad members in Philip Cocu, Michael Reiziger, Marc Overmars, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Kluivert and Edgar Davids. A Barça revival in the second half of the season would do their prospects the power of good.

Injury problems
At home, meanwhile, Advocaat will be concerned by the injury problems at PSV Eindhoven, which have affected Mark van Bommel, Wilfred Bouma, Kevin Hofland and André Ooijer this season. PSV youngster Arjen Robben will have to continue his good form if he wants a place on the plane to Portugal. The same applies to Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart at Ajax and Robin van Persie at Feyenoord.