Dutch manager Louis van Gaal is still hoping that Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids will be able to play a central role in Saturday's crucial World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road. The Dutch coach confirmed yesterday that the 28-year-old will travel to Ireland for the game and will remain with them during the build-up to Saturday afternoon's kick-off.
"It's annoying that that this verdict (arising from failing a drug test) will be announced the day after I name my squad," said van Gaal yesterday, "but I assume that Edgar will be declared as entitled to play. And if he isn't, then he'll still have a positive influence on the squad. The same goes for Frank de Boer. He'll be coming to Dublin too, even though he won't be training with the group."
Davids' fate is expected to be decided by a meeting of the Italian FA today, with FIFA then due to rubber stamp whatever decision is taken locally. De Boer, meanwhile, who has a hamstring problem, now misses the game through injury having previously had his drug ban shortened dramatically so that it ends on Friday. The presence of the Barcelona defender is an example, say Dutch officials, of the increasing unity within the once famously divided national team.
Overall, there are few real surprises within the panel of 19 named by van Gaal yesterday, with de Boer one of four players (the others are his brother Ronald, Michael Reiziger and Bobby Petta) who are absent because of injury while Bert Konterman is the most prominent figure to be dropped. His Rangers team-mate, Artur Numan, and Paul Bosvelt of Feyenoord are the only two additions to the panel from or the recent game against England in London where the team performed so impressively during the first half of a 2-0 win.
Van Gaal said yesterday that he was pleased with the squad he had named. "I'm very satisfied with the squad, it's very balanced with a lot of quality," he said. "And we know what to expect from the Irish who will play the way they always do, after all you cannot change the culture of a country.
"They will play to their strengths, they will be aggressive, and it's up to us to cope with the way they approach the game but I'm confident that we can do well in what will be a very difficult match.
"The Dutch manager is expected to play Patrick Kluivert and Ruud van Nistelrooy up front together after the pair, who , remarkably enough, were both born on the same day - July 1st 1976, did well together against England. at White Hart Lane. Kevin Hofland, meanwhile, who Manchester United attempted to buy from PSV at the weekend as a replacement for J aap Stam only to be told that they will have to wait until the summer, will almost certainly play alongside the newly-signed Lazio man in central defence at the weekend.
The Irish squad started to assemble in Dublin yesterday, meanwhile, when 12 of the panel trained together at the AUL complex in Clonshaugh. A couple of the players who featured in Sunday's Premiership games arrived in time to take part in yesterday's session, although Niall Quinn, Roy Keane and Kevin Kilbane were all due in last night.
Steven Reid trained yesterday, having been withdrawn from tonight's league game between Millwall and Crewe Alexandra under the five-day rule.
McCarthy's main concern yesterday centred on Richard Dunne, but he came through last night's game between Burnley and Manchester City. There is, however, a slight doubt over although Mark Kennedy, who missed Wolves' game yesterday. "He has got a bit of a groin strain but he's coming over and we will have a look at him," said McCarthy last night. "All we know so far is that it was bad enough to make him miss yesterday's game.
McCarthy, meanwhile, has said he does not think that the ease with which the Dutch beat England recently is any cause for concern. "There was no closing down in that game," he said. "It will have no bearing on Saturday which will be fire and brimstone from both sides.
"I watched the tape [of the England game] at the weekend and the Dutch looked impressive, but come on, Ronnie Whelan and I might have got a game in that first half."
"The only player left to arrive then will be Ian Harte, who continues to receive treatment to his injured ankle at Leeds United prior to heading for Dublin. McCarthy, though, has expressed confidence that the left back will be fit to play.
Dutch squad: v Ireland
Goalkeepers: Van der Sar (Fulham), Westerveld (Liverpool).
Defenders: Melchiot (Chelsea), Stam (Lazio Roma), Hofland (PSV), Numan (G lasgow Rangers).
Midfielders: Bosvelt (Feyenoord), Landzaat (Willem II), Van Bommel (PSV), Cocu (FC Barcelona), Davids (Juventus), Van Bronckhorst (Arsenal).
Forwards: Kluivert (FC Barcelona), Zenden (Chelsea), Makaay (Deportivo la Coruna), Hasselbaink (Chelsea), Van Hooijdonk (Feyenoord), Overmars (FC Barcelona).
