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'Hunter' has Van Basten in his sights
by Berend Scholten
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Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Netherlands) (¿Getty Images)
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Klaas Jan Huntelaar is closing in on an AFC Ajax landmark
as he attempts to force his way into the Netherlands reckoning for UEFA
EURO 2008T.
Van Basten record
Not since 1986/87, when Marco van Basten struck 31 times, has an Ajax
striker scored 30 Eredivisie goals in a season but, with 27 in 28 appearances
so far this season and six matches still to play, Huntelaar has the achievement
in his sights. The 24-year-old scored 33 goals in 2005/06, although 17
of them came for SC Heerenveen before a January switch to Amsterdam, while
his first full season at Ajax brought 21 goals in 32 matches. He has now
rediscovered his most prolific form, however, and has certainly given
Van Basten food for thought ahead of the friendly with UEFA EURO 2008T
co-hosts Austria at the end of this month.
Back in the squad
The Netherlands coach omitted "The Hunter" from his squad for
the decisive Group G qualifying matches against Luxembourg and Belarus
in November and, having recalled the forward for last month's 3-0 friendly
win in Croatia - with Huntelaar scoring the second goal in what Van Basten
described as "a result that will impress Europe" - has picked
him again in his provisional 29-man squad for the 26 March meeting with
Austria. With the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt,
Danny Koevermans and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink providing competition
up front, Huntelaar nevertheless has much to do to force his way into
the reckoning despite four goals in only ten international appearances
to date.
Overseas ambitions
Van Basten, who will take over at the Amsterdam ArenA following UEFA EURO
2008T, is clearly an admirer of Huntelaar and is keen for the striker
to prolong an Ajax contract that runs until 2010. "We must try to
keep players like him at Ajax," Van Basten said. "Although I've
said before it might be better for him to go abroad, now I'd rather he
stayed." Huntelaar, for whom this summer's tournament would be a
first major finals after being overlooked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup,
a disappointment to which he responded by helping the Netherlands to victory
in that summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship, is typically modest
about his ambitions. "I don't think I've become too big for the Eredivisie
already, although maybe you can improve faster abroad," he said.
"Maybe I will wait until after the European Championship before making
up my mind." For now, he has other ambitions on his mind.
Euro2008.uefa.com,
18 March 2008
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