Azerkid
07-18-2002, 05:07 PM
Tactics, correct field positioning, defenders getting into attacking positions; trainer to be Van Basten doesn’t seem to be interested in an exaggerated tactical approach to the game. “In Holland it’s terribly fashionable to talk tactics. I for one think in our country we tend to exaggerate a little.” Obviously, being a Cruyff protege, he points the finger at Louis van Gaal: “He wanted his influence to count all the time, when maybe at times he should have let go.”
In Van Gaal’s tight disciplinary concept Van Basten had seen the Dutch internationals lose their confidence to the extent that all flair and spontaneity had disappeared. He has no doubts about the players’ will to win. “No, I feel that the players tried 100% to get to Japan and Korea.”
Utrecht-born Van Basten says Van Gaal approached the national team like a club side. “Van Gaal himself has never made a national squad. That might explain why he worked in the manner he did. With the national side, you’re together for maybe two or three days. It’s impossible to impose a tactical concept in such a short space of time.”
Van Basten at one point almost sounds like his great master Johan Cruyff, known for his down to earth analysis of the game. “Keep it simple. If Van Gaal had told his four defenders to keep out their opposing numbers and told the forwards to score a couple of goals, we would have beat the Irish. Holland’s elimination has been such a huge blow for Dutch football.”
Van Basten’s hope now is focussed on Van Hanegem and Advocaat. “They too are extremely practical in their approach to the game.”
In Van Gaal’s tight disciplinary concept Van Basten had seen the Dutch internationals lose their confidence to the extent that all flair and spontaneity had disappeared. He has no doubts about the players’ will to win. “No, I feel that the players tried 100% to get to Japan and Korea.”
Utrecht-born Van Basten says Van Gaal approached the national team like a club side. “Van Gaal himself has never made a national squad. That might explain why he worked in the manner he did. With the national side, you’re together for maybe two or three days. It’s impossible to impose a tactical concept in such a short space of time.”
Van Basten at one point almost sounds like his great master Johan Cruyff, known for his down to earth analysis of the game. “Keep it simple. If Van Gaal had told his four defenders to keep out their opposing numbers and told the forwards to score a couple of goals, we would have beat the Irish. Holland’s elimination has been such a huge blow for Dutch football.”
Van Basten’s hope now is focussed on Van Hanegem and Advocaat. “They too are extremely practical in their approach to the game.”