:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/7f677b2c-d5c2-11eb-a963-0217670beecd.jpg "Togetherness at Orange impresses Ruud van Nistelrooy | European Football Championship")
sport">“I do not recognize that from my period,” says the 70-time international. “We were scattered in a hotel in Noordwijk and we also visited each other. But not like that. There is no hierarchy at all now. That was different in our time. How the group reacted when Donny and Luuk dropped out injured. That was impressive.”
sport">The almost 45-year-old Van Nistelrooy tries to transfer his experience at tournaments to the current internationals. In addition, he is there to support players who are having a hard time. “I know what a blow it was for Tim Krul that the choice did not fall on him,” he says. “I talk to him about that. But when I see how he supports his fellow goalkeepers and other players. I have an incredible amount of respect for that.”
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Van Nistelrooy with Matthijs de Ligt.
Ⓒ BSR Agency
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sport">The striker who scored 35 times for the Orange squad also knows what it’s like to start a final round strong and then be out in the knockout phase after the first game. It happened to him at the 2006 World Cup and the 2008 European Championship. “I talked about it with the group,” he says. “That’s why it was important not to loosen the reins too much after Austria. Because then it is very difficult to get back into the flow.”
Van Nistelrooy recognizes himself in Depay
sport">Van Nistelrooy recognizes himself in Memphis Depay with the Dutch national team. „That is a boy with a certain focus, conviction and urge to prove. He always has the will to be the best with the team he plays in. I love seeing how he shows that.”
sport">“It is a pleasure to work with Memphis,” continues Van Nistelrooy. “He is very open to discussions about areas for improvement in his game. In those conversations, it is mainly about details: completion, choosing a position, choosing the moment. That sort of thing. Memphis also asks a lot of questions. Our conversations are natural.”
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