Kuyt ´disappointed´ by Italy over Van Persie tackle

November 17, 2009

Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt said he was “disappointed” by the lack of respect Italy showed during last weekend’s friendly which saw fellow Netherlands forward Robin van Persie sustain an injury.

The Arsenal striker was stretchered off the pitch after being tackled by Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini 14 minutes into Saturday’s goalless draw in Pescara and could be out of action for up to six weeks.

Van Persie absolves Chiellini of blame but Kuyt said the challenge on the striker was symptomatic of Italy’s over-physical approach to what was only a friendly international.

“I was very disappointed (by Italy),” Kuyt told Sky Sports.

“We played a friendly against a big country and if you see the way they kicked us it’s very sad, very sad for the Dutch team and also very sad for Robin because he was in great form,” the Liverpool forward added.

“I think it was a bad tackle. Sometimes you think about this when you play a friendly for your country there should be more respect for each other and hopefully it won’t happen in the future.”

Van Persie has scored eight goals this season.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: arsenal, dirk kuyt, dutch team, Italy, lack of respect, london, netherlands, pescara, physical approach, six weeks, Sky Sports

Seedorf advises Drenthe not to focus on national team

November 3, 2009

Despite his place in the stages during Real Madrid’s last competition match against Getafe (2-0 win), Royston Drenthe will be part of the match selection that faces AC Milan tonight. That means there is a chance he will play against his friend Clarence Seedorf.

“I wasn’t part of the squad that played against Getafe, because coach Manuel Pellegrini wasn’t satisfied with the way I played against Alcorcon and Sporting Gijon,” Drenthe told Dutch paper De Telegraaf.

“Earlier in my career I would have discussed this with the coach but now I just decided to work like a madman. After the training at the San Siro, mister Pellegrini told me this was the reason why I returned to the group.”

And that was exactly what Clarence Seedorf had predicted. The two Dutchmen with Surinam roots became friends not so long ago. “Clarence is an example for me and he has been like a father to me,” said Drenthe.

Drenthe and Seedorf faced each other two weeks ago during the first match between Real Madrid and Milan at the Bernabeu. Drenthe scored a goal but Seedorf left the field as a winner (2-3). Based on his performance that game, Drenthe was complimented and the media predicted a place in the national team for the 22-year-old full back.

“But I have to perform on a high level for a long period to make it to the national team,” added Drenthe. “I know I’m doing well now but I don’t think about the Dutch team. I focus on Real. That’s also a lesson from Clarence.”

Paul Haring

Tags: ac milan, alcorcon, Clarence, clarence seedorf, coach, de telegraaf, Drenthe, dutch paper, dutch team, Dutchmen, game, madman, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, match, Milan, Paul Haring, real madrid, roots, San, san siro, sporting gijon

Kuyt backs Babel for Anfield stay

September 4, 2009

Netherlands forward Dirk Kuyt believes Ryan Babel is happy at Liverpool and is backing him to become a first-team regular at Anfield.

The Dutch winger was quoted on Wednesday as being open to the prospect of securing a loan switch to former club Ajax during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old is said to have grown disillusioned at a lack of opportunities at Anfield, with his World Cup aspirations weighing heavy on his mind.

Babel was awarded a starting berth by Rafa Benitez for Liverpool’s opening game of the 2009/10 campaign at Tottenham, but has fallen down the pecking order since then.

Fellow Reds forward Kuyt understands his countryman’s frustration, but he believes his international team-mate is prepared to fight for a place on Merseyside.

“He loves to play games for Liverpool and he will do everything in his power to come back,” Kuyt told Sky Sports News.

“He is happy at Liverpool but every player wants to play and that is his only concern, before the World Cup, that he has to play games.

“I’m sure that he wants to play for Liverpool and that he wants to play in games as soon as possible.

“We have a big squad, with many players who can play in his position, so he has to work hard and I believe he is doing that at Liverpool and with the Dutch team.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Ajax, aspirations, Benitez, berth, countryman, Dirk, dirk kuyt, dutch team, frustration, Liverpool, Merseyside, netherlands, pecking order, reds, ryan babel, Sky Sports, sky sports news, team mate, tottenham, winger, World Cup

Middlesbrough turn down UAE offer for Alves

July 20, 2009

Middlesbrough have rejected a three million pounds bid from an unnamed United Arab Emirates club for Brazilian striker Afonso Alves.

The 28-year-old has struggled to make an impact at the Riverside Stadium since his club record 12 million pounds transfer from Dutch team Heerenveen in January 2008.

His lack of goals contributed to Middlesbrough’s relegation from the Premier League last season, but boss Gareth Southgate has no intention of selling Alves on the cheap.

Southgate told the Northern Echo: “We have had a bid for Afonso, but it wasn’t something we deemed to be acceptable. To be honest, it wasn’t anywhere near what we would accept.”

Meanwhile, Southgate confirmed that stay-away striker Mido will continue to be fined as long as he fails to report for training.

The Egypt international did not arrive back for training with the rest of his team-mates a fortnight ago, and has been fined two weeks wages.

He will continue to be hit in the pocket until he shows up and Southgate said: “It’s very simple – Mido has to get himself back and into training with us.

“This club will not be paying anybody who is not in training with us.

“We will deal with what happens after that as and when he’s ready to join in with that training, but nothing will knock us off what we want to achieve.

“The players that want to be here have to have the focus they have showed so far and put the other distractions to one side.”

MIDDLESBROUGH, England (AFP)

Tags: afonso alves, distractions, dutch team, Egypt, England, fortnight, gareth southgate, heerenveen, intention, mido, northern echo, premier league, relegation, riverside stadium, team mates, united arab emirates, wages

Danijel Pranjic joins Bayern Munich

June 22, 2009

Croatian midfielder Danijel Pranjic has agreed to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich on a three year contract.

Bayern and Danijel’s current club, Heerenveen, sealed the move on Monday and agreed not to disclose the transfer fee, the German club said in a statement.

The 27-year-old Pranjic, who joined Heerenveen in 2005 from Dinamo Zagreb, scored 16 goals last season for the Dutch team.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “Pranjic is a versatile player who was very high on the wish list of our new coach, Louis Van Gaal.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Bayern, bayern munich, Bundesliga, chairman, coach, croatian, current club, danijel pranjic, Dinamo, dutch team, german club, heerenveen, Karl, karl heinz, karl heinz rummenigge, Louis, midfielder, Pranjic, Rummenigge, versatile player, wish, wish list, Zagreb

Dutch soccer star keeping Real in title hunt

March 24, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – After a slow start Dutch international forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is starting to make a name for himself at Real Madrid and bagged a brace in a 3-0 win over Almeria at the weekend to make it eight goals in six games.

Huntelaar was signed by former coach Bernd Schuster for 20 million euros from Ajax over the festive period and it has proved a great leaving present for current manager Juande Ramos.

‘The Hunter’ has shown a midas touch in front of goal with some lethal finishing and Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain has subsequently found himself warming the substitutes bench.

"I am happy to continue scoring although it is more important that the team wins," explained Huntelaar. "We have so much quality in this Real team that anyone can score.

"Today Marcelo and I scored but the next time it could be someone else such is the quality in this side.

"Right now, I feel great at Real Madrid. I am a little happier every day for living here and playing at the best club in the world."

Huntelaar has scored eight goals in 11 games and is Real’s lucky omen with the team never tasting defeat with him in the side, winning 10 and drawing once.

The Dutchman was cup-tied for the two Champions League defeats to Liverpool at the last 16 round with Ramos preferring French midfielder Lass Diarra for the squad.

Huntelaar expressed his disappointment at missing out but has knuckled down to make himself indispensable.

Comparisons have been made with compatriot and Real team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy – out injured for the season – and Rafael van der Vaart believes there are similarities.

"He is in excellent form and is a real predator," lauded van der Vaart. "He is similar to van Nistelrooy and with him out injured Huntelaar is someone to rely on to get goals."

There has been talk of a rift between Huntelaar and Dutch team-mate Arjen Robben – the two reportedly exchanged some choice words in the 5-2 win against Athletic Bilbao last weekend – but Huntelaar played down the dispute.

"It was just a misunderstanding and there is no problem between us," maintained Huntelaar. "Sometimes things happen on the pitch but they stay out there on the pitch. We have got on well for a long time."

Despite Huntelaar’s heroics, Real trail Barcelona, who crushed Malaga 6-0 on Sunday, by six points in the title race with ten games left to go.

Written by: AFP

Tags: Ajax, Argentine, arjen robben, athletic bilbao, Barcelona, Bernd Schuster, choice words, compatriot, diarra, dutch international, dutch team, dutchman, festive period, gonzalo higuain, Jan Huntelaar, LA Liga, Liverpool, MADRID, Malaga, midas touch, midfielder, omen, Rafael van der, rafael van der vaart, real madrid, ruud van nistelrooy, six games, team mate

Dutch soccer star keeping Real in title hunt

March 23, 2009