World Cup:Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has leapt to the defence of midfield enforcer Mark van Bommel. After falling out with former coach Marco van Basten, Van Bommel was ignored by the Oranje for two years before accepting the request of his father-in-law to come back into that Dutch fold.
That close family tie with Van Marwijk has proved very helpful to Holland’s World Cup bid and as they try to find a way of stopping Spain from dominating possession in Sunday’s final at Soccer City, many see Van Bommel as the ideal weapon.
Yet the 33-year-old has also developed an unwanted reputation. A number of dubious challenges may have gone un-noticed by the referees, but not fans, who have vented their frustration at Van Bommel’s cynical approach on various websites.
His challenge on Walter Gargano immediately before Giovanni van Bronckhorst brilliantly put Holland ahead in their semi-final with Uruguay on Tuesday was particularly ugly.
Again, Van Bommel got away with that one, and while he did finally collect his first booking of the tournament later in the game, it was for the relatively minor offence of kicking the ball away when he thought the game had been won.
With Xavi and Andres Iniesta threatening to dictate the entire game this weekend, Van Bommel is going to be needed. And Van Marwijk insists his reputation is unjust.
“I don’t agree with what people are saying,” said the Dutch coach. “The yellow card on Tuesday was his first in the entire competition. He has shown a lot of discipline in his play.”
Van Bommel is feted in Holland though, to the extent he has been tipped as the next Dutch skipper given Van Bronckhorst will retire immediately after Sunday’s game. It seems the Bayern Munich man is not interested in the job.
“I don’t want to be the captain,” he said. “I didn’t make any international appearances for two years and other players deserve it more.”
Van Bommel will continue making his contribution in his own unique style, with the aim of allowing far more attack-minded team-mates to strut their stuff further up the field. Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben have already made their mark and Dirk Kuyt’s industry has earned the Liverpool man plenty of admirers as well.
But the jury is still out on Robin van Persie. Although he has recovered from the ankle injury that he collected on international duty in November and threatened his whole participation in the tournament, the 26-year-old has managed just one goal so far.
He has been assessed as a less influential member of the Holland team compared with Sneijder and Robben and there have been rumours all is not completely well with the Arsenal man behind the scenes.
Yet Van Marwijk insists he is happy with Van Persie’s contribution. “Robin improved a lot in the semi-final against Uruguay and I have full confidence in him,” said Van Marwijk. “We play in a way that everybody can make a contribution and we do everything to let Robin play well.
“We created a lot of chances in all the games, we just didn’t take them all. He is in very good shape at the moment and I am sure that he will play his best game in the final.”