Van Nistelrooy fears nightmare end
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Van Nistelrooy has never played at a major championships
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EURO 2004 PLAYOFFS
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Croatia win 2-1 on aggregate
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| EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS |
Portugal (hosts), France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Greece, England, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, Croatia.
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AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- Ruud van Nistelrooy has called on his Dutch teammates to show more passion against Scotland in Wednesday's second leg of their Euro 2004 playoff.
The Netherlands suffered a shock 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Glasgow and are in danger of missing out on their second major finals in succession, a scenario the Manchester United striker describes as a "nightmare."
"What really annoyed me is that we didn't show the passion of the Scots," said van Nistelrooy.
"The Scots play the game with fire inside of them but that passion is lacking from the Dutch team. In our team we have too many people who are not prepared to go the extra yard -- people who want to win at all costs.
"I know they will never be the same as the Scots but I want them to go out there and play with venom."
The Dutch squad, considered one of the world's most talented, are under huge pressure to avoid a repeat of their failure to reach the 2002 World Cup
Coach Dick Advocaat has said he will quit if he fails to lead his side to next summer's finals in Portugal.
Advocaat has been criticized for his decision on Saturday to play van Nistelrooy alongside Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert -- the pair have clashed in the past and failed to spark on the pitch -- but the coach responded by placing the blame firmly with his players.
"There was nothing wrong with my tactics," he said. "It was the players who didn't carry out my instructions."
Despite his reputation as one of Europe's leading marksmen, Van Nistelrooy has yet to play at either a World Cup or European championship and says he fears missing out on the chance to play at a major finals while at the peak of his career.
"This could be a nightmare," he said. "I'll be 30 by the time the next World Cup comes around and I've yet to play in a major championships.
"If we don't win on Wednesday what does that tell you about me as a footballer or as a person?"
Scotland coach Berti Vogts is realistic enough to admit that another clean sheet against a Dutch team blessed with the likes of Van Nistelrooy may be a tall order.
But he was upbeat about his side's prospects of grabbing a second goal, particularly if they can get through the first half hour without conceding.
"The first 30 minutes is always important in football, whether its international football, the Champions League, an Old Firm match or Ajax against Feyenoord," Vogts said.
"I'm looking forward to it. It is a big, big day for my boys, maybe a historic day.
"They gave the match of their lives on Saturday and they have to do it again. It is possible. Remember, a 2-1 win for Holland is a great result for us.
"We must score a goal and then maybe the door is wide, wide open to Portugal."
