DUTCH COACH UNHAPPY WITH DE JONG’S TACKLE

in Soccer News World Cup by Itai — March 9, 2010 at 7:12 am | 0 comments

Following the 2-1 Netherlands victory over the Americans, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk laid into his defensive midfielder, Nigel de Jong, for his vicious tackle against Stuart Holden. This tackle would sideline Holden for six weeks with a fractured fibula.

“Nigel plays in England and that is the league where referees allow players to do so much more,” stated van Marwijk when discussing the tackle made in the USA vs Netherlands international friendly. “A foul like that the one Nigel committed on Holden can cost us the World Cup.”

Van Marwijk was plenty vocal later on about his closed door talk with De Jong following the match.

“As soon as the game was over, I got hold of him and I told him straight,” van Marwijk told the Mirror in an interview. “Maybe he thought this foul was not even as bad as the ones in previous games, but he really must get this out of is system.’”

As bad as the vicious cleats-up tackle was, however, only a free kick was awarded by the referees. It kind of makes you wonder what penalty would have been awarded if the tables had been turned.

Holden returned to Houston to recover and is expected back on the field in roughly six weeks.