World Cup ’94 : WORLD CUP USA ’94 / GROUP F PREVIEW : Netherlands at a Glance
* COACH: Dick Advocaat.
* KEY PLAYERS: Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Ronald Koeman.
* STRENGTHS: Bergkamp is developing into one of the world’s best strikers, even though he had a relatively poor first season in Italy. Rijkaard, the only member of AC Milan’s former world-beating Dutch trio to make the trip (Ruud Gullit left the team, Marco Van Basten is recovering from injury) provides the know-how in midfield, and Koeman is a free-kick specialist. The Dutch also attack well down either wing.
* WEAKNESSES: There is turmoil in the camp, as usual. Gullit walking out on the team was a blow, as was Van Basten first saying yes, then no, to joining the squad. Koeman is 31 and his lack of mobility and pace has been exposed on occasion recently. He is also prone to professional fouls when beaten, something that definitely will result in a red card in ’94. The goalkeeping has yet to be tested.
* WORLD CUP HISTORY: Five previous appearances. Record of 8-6-6. Best finish was as runner-up in 1974 and 1978.
* LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: In 1967, as a 19-year-old, Advocaat played for San Francisco in the United Soccer Assn., one of the forerunners of the North American Soccer League. He later played for three seasons with the NASL’s Chicago Sting.
* OUTLOOK: The first round should be a breeze, even if the Dutch suffer in the heat and humidity. Thereafter, it gets tougher. A semifinal place is not beyond the realm of possibility, but Colombia and Brazil loom large on the Netherlands’ horizon.
* PREDICTED FIRST-ROUND FINISH: First.
ROSTER
No. Name Position 1 Ed De Goey Goalkeeper 13 Edwin van Der Star Goalkeeper 22 Theo Snelders Goalkeeper 2 Frank De Boer Defender 4 Ronald Koeman Defender 14 Ulrich van Goebbel Defender 15 Danny Blind Defender 18 Stan Valckx Defender 21 John De Wolf Defender 3 Frank Rijkaard Midfielder 20 Aron Winter Midfielder 6 Jan Wouters Midfielder 8 Wim Jonk Midfielder 5 Rob Witschge Midfielder 16 Arthur Numan Midfielder 10 Dennis Bergkamp Forward 9 Ronald De Boer Forward 7 Marc Overmars Forward 11 Bryan Roy Forward 12 Johnny Bosman Forward 17 Gaston Taument Forward 19 Peter van Vossen Forward
