World Cup,an excellent adventure for Van Basten
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-20 10:40 One moment he acts like a schoolboy, juggling a
ball and mischievously playing word tricks with the German language.
Netherlands national
team head coach van Basten.[filephoto] | The next,
Marco van Basten talks like a tactical expert and, like fellow Dutchman Johann
Cruyff, seems as though he could be as brilliant a coach as he was a player.
Two hours after the Netherlands had qualified from the World Cup's toughest
first-round group on Friday with a game to spare, fans were still at the
Stuttgart stadium chanting the Van Basten's name.
Two years after taking over when Dick Advocaat was hounded from the job
because of a disappointing showing at the European Championship, Van Basten
seems to be thriving in his high pressure role.
"The way he handles things is impressive," goalkeeper and captain Edwin van
der Sar said.
Van Basten's spectacular volley in the 1988 European Championship final is
treasured by the Dutch, not least because it helped the Netherlands to its only
major trophy.
And since the inexperienced coach took over the national team, he seems to
have had the same golden touch he had as a gifted striker for Ajax, AC Milan and
the Netherlands.
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