Dutch Trying Hard to Banish Czech Ghosts
Two days after their agonising defeat by the Czech Republic the Dutch are desperately trying to look forward to their final Euro 2004 Group D opponents Latvia.
The squad is still visibly bruised after the fall-out from their wasted opportunity to take a huge step towards the quarter-finals after throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to the Czechs.
Coach Dick Advocaat provided a comprehensive explanation on Sunday and asked his assistant, Willem van Hanegem, to stand in for him at yesterday's press conference.
"I'm sure our players will give everything to win the last match," Van Hanegem told reporters.
"It is annoying to depend on others but we caused this situation so you can't blame anyone else for it."
Two players stood out against the Czechs, winger Arjen Robben who created both Dutch goals and midfielder Edgar Davids, who put a poor performance against Germany behind him with a return to his warrior-like best.
"We have to assess the whole team and the coach is part of that." Davids said.
"When you win together you lose together and that is what happened last match. Everyone is responsible for what happened."
Two of the three Czech goals were caused by defensive errors.
Giovanni van Bron-ckhorst lost the ball just before Vladimir Smicer's winner, while captain Philip Cocu allowed the Czechs back into the match when he gave away possession soon after the Dutch had taken an early 2-0 lead.
"It wasn't only back luck, we made too many mistakes," Cocu said.
"It is important that everyone first judges their own performance and I was not happy with mine. My pass for their first goal was terrible."
Despite all the goals and the hype surrounding a magnificent match, the decision which appeared to settle it was Robben's substitution in favour of defensive midfielder Paul Bosvelt.
"We had some discussion among the technical staff about that change," said Van Hanegem.
"I thought there were other possibilities to replace someone but it still is Advocaat's responsibility."
Van Hanegem said it was strange that removing a 19-year-old player caused a team with a lot of experience to lose their balance.
"Everyone is blaming the technical staff for this loss but no one talks about the defensive errors that costs us two goals," he said.
"But I think we are over-rated. We have quality players but are simply not a team who will run over every opponent."
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