Freezing Drogba, Dutch key to pass Cote d'Ivoire
15/6/2006 15:31
Knowing a victory will effectively guarantee their place in the knockout
phase with a game to spare, Van Basten's Dutch team have no choice, but to
freeze Didier Drogba when they face the Cote d'Ivoire at their Friday's World
Cup clash.
While the Cote d'Ivoire did enough in their loss to Argentina to
suggest they offer a threat in most areas, Drogba is the obvious danger
man.
"We know he is a very good player. We know he can score a lot of goals
and we know he can create a lot of trouble because he is so strong, " said Van
Basten.
Most Cote d'Ivoire's attacks go through the Chelsea man and while he
was outstanding at bringing team-mates into the game in Hamburg last Saturday,
he was also the major goal threat as well.
It was Drogba who scored the late,
close-range effort which gave the Elephants hope of snatching a draw and there
is bound to be a thought in van Basten's mind that if the 28-year-old can be
stopped, the Dutch will be halfway towards the win they crave.
Van Basten
instructed his team to pay more attention on the Chelsea man, but do not forget
the Cote d'Ivoire team as a whole.
"We have to look after him as a team. Even
though he has a lot of qualities, we cannot change everything just for one
player," van Basten said.
Having spent time watching the Cote d'Ivoire on
their run to the African Nations Cup final earlier this year, van Basten knows
it is difficult to predict how the Africans approach Friday's match.
"During
the African Nations Cup, they changed their players and their system quite a
lot, so it is difficult to know how they will approach this game," smiled van
Basten.
Their natural instincts are to attack at every opportunity, which, as
they found out to their cost against Argentina, leaves them vulnerable on the
break.
"I guess we will only truly know when we see their teamsheet.
But
what they definitely have are players who are used to being in big leagues in
England and Spain," added Basten.
The Dutch skipper Edwin van der Sar is
available despite the Manchester United goalkeeper being troubled by a calf
problem, accepts the Ivorians are opponents to be respected.
"They are strong
individually and collectively and we know it is going to be a very tough game
for us." said Van der Sar.
To Van Basten's delight, his young team has proved
their expertise last Sunday when they flew to a winning after Serbia and
Montenegro 1-0, thanks to a splendid solo goal from forward Arjen obben.
"I
think they learned from this experience and will prove more in the late games,
Robben was good, and I think he still has space to prove," said van
Basten.
Unsatisfied with his team first appearance in the World Ccp after
they lost 2-1 to twice World Cup champion Argentina last Saturday, Cote d'
Ivoire coach Henri Michel believed he could do something to change the team's
spirit and they could do better when facing the Netherlands.
"We made many
mistakes against Argentina, I hope my players will not lose confidence. Now we
have to concentrate on our next match against the Netherlands," he
said.
Needing at least a draw to maintain any interest in the competition,
Michel may prefer to adopt a more cautious approach, especially in the first
half, to give his side a platform to build on.
Xinhua News
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