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| Van
Gaal's first obstacle looms |
2 Sept 2000
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| Louis
van Gaal is already faced by his first test of character in tonight's
qualifier for the next World Cup in 2002 as Holland meet Ireland in the
Amsterdam Arena. A list of injured or absent players and the unwillingness
of clubs to 'risk' their top players in this (and any other kind of)
international means that his skill as a trainer and tactician will be
sorely tested. He can no longer expect sympathy from the Dutch clubs with
their powerful and influential chairmen, especially when these clubs are
concentrating on the coming matches to be played in the Champions' League.
The Spanish and Italian leagues are getting off to a slow start, which
means seven of his key players (Van der Saar, Seedorf, Reiziger, Frank de
Boer, Cocu and Kluivert) start their new footballing season having no
recent form to reveal evidence of their current matchworthiness to the
trainer. To make things worse Numan, Davids, Stam, Overmars, Zenden, Van
Bommel, Van Nistelrooij, Makaay and Bogarde are not available and Bergkamp
and Winter have put a full stop behind their international careers. The
lineup for Holland tonight will include five young hopefulls (Lurling,
Bouma, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Bruggink and Ricksen) and two other players
who didn't take part in Euro 2000 (Witschge and Telan). The Irish may not
pose the threat they once did under Jackie Charlton but could prove
difficult enough for the handicapped Dutch team. |
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