Van the Man back in tune with van Basten

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

BERNE, Switzerland (AFP) — Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy cuts a much happier figure these days than he did at the 2006 World Cup finals and with him soon to turn 32 he realises that Euro 2008 may well be his last appearance on a major international stage.

The Real Madrid sharpshooter was totally out of sorts at the World Cup as he was out in the cold at Manchester United and was eventually dropped to the bench for the ill-tempered second round match with Portugal - if looks could kill he would have disposed of coach Marco van Basten.

When he was told that van Basten could not guarantee him being an automatic pick that was that for the former PSV Eindhoven star, who closed down his international career - a situation which stayed like that for a year.

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