HOLLAND'S brightest star, Ruud Gullit, yesterday walked out of their
World Cup training camp and declared that he would not be going to the
finals in the USA next month.
The 31-year-old striker, who has rejoined AC Milan from Sampdoria,
seems to have had a row with Dutch coach, Dick Advocaat, over the
tactics to be used in America, and has now decided he is not prepared to
play under the system made popular in Holland by Ajax.
Gullit, who played against Scotland for the the first half of their
3-1 win in Utrecht on Friday, packed his bags at the Dutch headquarters
in Noordwijk, the coastal resort where the Netherlands team prepares for
major championships, and headed for home. He said he would not explain
his reasons to Advocaat until after the finals.
However, he had given a strong hint as to his feelings following the
game against Scotland when he said: ''I'm not happy with the tactics we
are using, and I am not going to make the same mistake I made in 1990.''
The man who has recaptured some of the form that made him the best
player in the world a few years go added: ''People are getting excited
about the way we beat Scotland, but I thought we played poorly.''
Gullit and Advocaat have had public disgreements in the past, but the
1990 experience to which the player referred involved him and Leo
Beenhaaker, the coach of the Dutch team in the World Cup finals in
Italy, and again it was about the tactics, although there have long been
suspicions there was more to it.
Following that, Gullit had decided that he would not take part in this
year's finals but changed his mind when the Dutch FA chose Johann
Cruyff, the Barcelona coach, as their manager for the USA.
The bizarre nature of that arrangement, which depended on Advocaat
steering the side though to the finals and then stepping aside, fell
apart when Cruyff's cash demands were too much for the Dutch
association. Advocaat was then asked to remain manager.
Gullit resurrected his decision to miss the finals.
However, Advocaat flew to Italy to see Gullit and after discussions,
Gullit agreed to rejoin the national squad. Gullit did not take part in
any of the preparatory games until last week when he elected to play
against Scotland. His attitude made the Dutch camp unhappy that he was
able to choose his appearances.
That may be closer to the reason for his departure than the tactical
disagreement, although he has stated publicly that he does not believe
the more adventurous, flexible methods of Advocaat will suit the heat of
an American summer and would prefer to see the Milan style, in essence
keeping six players behind the ball at all times.
However, it seems unlikely that a player of his standing, aware that
this will be his last chance to shine on the world stage, would abandon
play solely with this argument.
It is much more likely that there has been strong resentment in the
camp at his special treatment.
This latest row suggests that nothing much has changed in the dressing
room where there are more barrack room lawyers than midfield men.
Whether or not Gullit will be persuaded to change his mind remains to be
seen.
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