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Seedorf sizes up familiar foes
by Paolo Menicucci from Milan
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Clarence Seedorf knows many members of the Italy
squad only too well (¿Getty Images)
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AC Milan team-mates will become adversaries for Clarence
Seedorf as his Netherlands side line up against Italy in Group C at UEFA
EURO 2008T on 9 June.
Midfield quartet
Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini comprise
the midfield that has helped Milan reach three UEFA Champions League finals
in the last five seasons, winning the trophy in 2003 and 2007. But the
31-year-old Dutchman will be the odd man out in Berne as he lines up against
his club colleagues in Italy and the Netherlands' opening game of the
finals. "At the moment I really don't know how it will be to face
them, but to take part in the tournament will certainly be very good,"
Seedorf, who is looking ahead to his fourth UEFA European Championship,
told uefa.com. "We see each other every day so it will not be strange
for me. I know them well and they know me as well."
Fierce competition
With France and Romania completing the line up in Group C - regarded by
many as the toughest of the four sections in Austria and Switzerland -
Seedorf knows his side will be underdogs against the FIFA World Cup holders.
"We were knocked out of the World Cup and didn't win our EURO qualifying
group so we are fully aware it will be difficult," he said.
Young talent
The Netherlands can count on several emerging talents, many of them promoted
from the sides which have won successive UEFA European Under-21 Championships.
Seedorf, however, prefers to take a cautious approach with young players.
"We'll see," he said. "There are a lot of talented players
who could become champions. Only a few of them actually do become champions
though. For example at Milan we have Pato and he will have to develop
without pressure under the care of the expert staff who look after him.
He needs space to grow and to learn from his mistakes in order to develop
and become a great player. Age is not the key factor - the desire to be
competitive is. Look at Paolo Maldini: He's 40 and is still the best."
Positive focus
Seedorf has had his share of EURO disappointments. His missed shoot-out
penalty at EURO '96T ended the Netherlands' hopes in the quarter-finals
against France ,and he was also in the side that lost out to Italy on
spot-kicks at UEFA EURO 2000T after missing twice from eleven metres in
normal time. "I don't like to dwell on the bad things," he explained.
"I focus on good memories and positive moments. Bad moments are part
of a player's development because overcoming difficulties helps one grow,
but I'm a positive person. I always try to create positive and good things
and it will be the same this summer." Pirlo, Gattuso and Ambrosini
will know that only too well.
Euro2008.uefa.com,
20 March 2008
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