Van Nistelrooij's Dutch vow

By Greg Demetriou

Fresh from being honoured as best forward at the UEFA European Football Awards, Ruud van Nistelrooij has turned his attentions to the Dutch national team.

Dutch dream
The Manchester United FC striker is desperate to fire the Netherlands to the UEFA EURO 2004™ finals in Portugal next summer but they are battling for top spot in qualifying Group 3 with the impressive Czech Republic. Speaking to uefa.com, Van Nistelrooij revealed why he is so determined to make the Dutch dream a reality.

'Absolutely vital'
"It is very important to qualify," he said. "I have never played a big tournament. I was injured for UEFA EURO 2000, and we missed the [2002 FIFA] World Cup so for me it is absolutely vital to be there. The same goes for the rest of the players who want to show that Dutch football is still good."

Head to head
With the Czechs and Dutch having taken 13 points apiece from their first five fixtures, head-to-head results will be decisive should they finish level. The Czechs' 1-1 draw in Rotterdam last March gives them a slight advantage, so the Dutch will want at least to match that in Prague next Wednesday.

Experience counts
Before then, both play on Saturday. Van Nistelrooij is suspended when Austria visit Rotterdam while the Czechs take an experienced side to Minsk to tackle Belarus. The Austrians, third with nine points from six games, have a slim chance of topping the table but could realistically finish second. However, injury has cost them the key TSV 1860 München trio of Harald Cerny, Markus Weissenberger and Martin Stranzl. The Belarussians have no chance but will be determined to stay above last-placed Moldova.

Showdown in Prague
Van Nistelrooij has identified next Wednesday's contest with the Czechs as definitive. "It is going to be a big challenge for us," he claimed. "That is going to be the decisive game and the winner is going to qualify directly. We know it is going to be difficult to go there and win but with our players we are capable of doing that. However, we are going to need to be at our best to achieve it."

Strong strikers
The Netherlands certainly have the striking talent to win all three of their remaining games. Coach Dick Advocaat experimented in last month's 1-1 friendly draw with Belgium by playing young Rafael van der Vaart alongside Van Nistelrooij with Patrick Kluivert in behind. The goal, however, came from a substitute in Roy Makaay.

Robben selected
Admitting "there is a lot of competition" with PSV prodigy Arjen Robben and a rejuvenated Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink also involved, Van Nistelrooij said: "It is important for me to be the best I can be in every game. The national manager has to make a choice. So far I am the first choice centre-forward. I just want to show that he has made the right decision."

Top billing
Few would argue with the selection of the 27-year-old, who scored 44 goals for United last season, and he is determined to emulate the achievement of Marco van Basten who helped the Netherlands to glory at the 1988 UEFA European Championship. "For me, Van Basten was the best striker in the history of football," said Van Nistelrooij. "He is from my generation - when I grew up I saw him play. He is my role model." Van Nistelrooij may have his own idol, but today's youngsters will surely look no further than him.