Rafael van der Vaart doesn't have it easy. Not because he doesn't get to play for Real Madrid so much. Nor is it because Bert van Marwijk overlooked him at first. Raf is going through a difficult time because the light of his life, tv-personality Sylvie Meis, was recently diagnosed

Arsenal have been rocked by an injury to star striker Robin van Persie which could see the Dutchman ruled out of action for around two months.

Van Persie was stretchered off during Holland's goalless friendly draw in Italy on Saturday night.

He damaged his ankle in a challenge with Giorgio Chiellini in the early stages of the clash.

Angry Liverpool winger Ryan Babel is desperate to go out on loan after claiming Rafa Benitez has broken promises made to him.
Babel, 22, has already targeted a move to his former club Ajax in January to salvage his World Cup dream.
The Dutch star has struggled to get any regular first-team football since moving to Anfield two years ago.

Royston Drenthe grabbed his chance in the Real Madrid - AC Milan CL game last week. Although the Galacticos lost the game, the young Dutchman impressed 30 minutes. Bert van Marwijk watched the game with one eye, using the other one to check out Bayern Munich vs Bordeaux. Did you look

Bert van Marwijk invited Glenn Loovens in the Oranje selection for the friendly against Japan and the WC qualification game against Scotland. The 25 year old Celtic defender has never before played for the Dutch team, although he did play for Young Oranje teams when a youth player at Feyenoord. Skipper

Bert van Marwijk said it: Huntelaar is a smart lad. He will have talked to his new club AC Milan about their plans with them... Huntelaar: "I sure did. I already talked to the a month ago. I had a meeting with Leonardo, the new coach, and he sees a deep

Team manager Bert van Marwijk refuses to look into the future regarding a comeback of Van der Sar and Van Nistelrooy. Both players announced that the WC 2010 is still in the back of their heads. Van der Sar (130 international games) broke two fingers last month and is at

Oranje won 3-0 against Japan. But team manager Bert van Marwijk was as down to earth as ever: "This was the worst game we played under my rule. Japan made it very hard for us. They deserve the compliments." Asked about the reasons, Van Marwijk went on: "We were playing clumsy,

Winger has until January to prove himself worthy of a first team spot otherwise he may have to leave to cement his World Cup hopes.

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has to force himself into a regular first team spot at Anfield, according to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk, or his chances of representing his country at next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa will disappear.

Rafael Benitez will be furious after Dirk Kuyt came off injured at half-time in Saturday's friendly for Holland against Australia.
Liverpool were already less than happy that Kuyt and Ryan Babel had to play the match in Sydney in what was a commercially-driven deal done by the Holland FA.

Liverpool forward Ryan Babel has to force himself into a regular first team spot at Anfield, according to Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk, or his chances of representing his country at next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa will disappear.
The powerful winger has only impressed fitfully during his time on Merseyside so far, though many feel that Reds manager Rafa Benitez has not necessarily given the Dutchman as much opportunity as he perhaps should have, and Van Marwijk has affirmed that he needs his international players to be performing as regularly as possible for their clubs in order to put themselves properly in the frame for Holland.

The movement to ban vuvuzelas continues to gain supporters and steam. Dutch head coach Bert Van Marwijk spoke out against the annoying horns.
"At home watching TV it really was annoying, but in the stadiums you get used to it but it is still unpleasant," Van Marwikj, who is on a fact-finding tour before next year's World Cup finals, told reporters at the hotel his team will use next year.

Ajax' new signing De Zeeuw With the real experts having had a go at the crystal ball ( us!!), it's now time for three former coaches to enlighten us. Ron Spelbos - former AZ, Club Brugge, Ajax and Oranje defender, former coach and currently scout for Bert van Marwijk - has been

Oranje's football season starts with a friendly against England coming Wednesday and will end with the WC in South Africa. Despite Oranje's swift qualifications for the tournament, Bert van Marwijk is not without worries. In this busy season, the team manager needs to keep his players motivated while the results don't

Ryan Babel had been touted as one of the most exciting prospects in Europe when he made a switch from Ajax to Liverpool but his career has since taken the wrong turn. The player himself has to take part of the blame for this because he never really repeat the performances from his time at Ajax, but in all fairness I have to say Rafa Benitez never really gave him a real chance to shine.

After 22 hours of flight and 2,5 hours of stop-over, Bert van Marwijk resembles an American president after his eight years reign in the White House. His little grey beard shows, his hair is ruffled and his clothes wrinkled. The only difference? The Dutch coach has sparkles in his eyes. But

Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk has named his 23-man squad friendly international matches against Italy on November 14th and Paraguay on November 18th. Squad: Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam), Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem) Defenders: John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), [.

By CARL ELDRIDGE It's the news we dreaded. Just as we get into our stride and look like contenders for some silverware, the curse of November strikes again. OK, it's not the curse of reverses that has undone the glorious Gunners in the past during this month, this time it's the gut-wrenching news that RVP has done his ankle in playing for the Clog-wearing mob against the Eyeties in a pissing friendly.

Liverpool, Spurs and Fulham were put on red alert last night as Ruud van Nistelrooy admitted he would consider a return to the Premier League.
The Dutch striker is out in the cold at Real Madrid and is worried about his World Cup place.
The Spanish giants would consider selling the former Manchester United hitman for £5m in the January transfer market.

Bert van Marwijk is soaking up impressions at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, one year prior to the real WC. His conclusions for now... The Climate "Thursday I saw two games. In the afternoon I saw Brazil - USA between 4 and 6 pm. I was wearing a t-shirt, it was

Both the Dutch and the English national team have won all seven games in their WC qualifications. Still, it's a question whether the friendly in Amsterdam tonight will be a top class game. Form and rhythm will be absent since most players haven't started their competition season yet. Bert van Marwijk

In three games against Australia, Oranje hasn't been able to win. Last Saturday, Oranje played the Socceroos away. In Australia. A unique happening, since most big nations balk at the idea of traveling 42 hours to play a 90 minute friendly. Bert van Marwijk - and the powers that be at

Team manager Bert van Marwijk confirmed he uses a shadow list for potential Oranje players at last Friday's press conference in Zeist. The coach refused to publish the list, though. "It wouldn't do anyone any good to publish that list. It's not a fixed list either, so then I'd have

Liverpool winger Ryan Babel has dismissed reports that he is looking to leave the club in January.
Babel has struggled to hold down a regular place in Rafa Benitez's plans, making just two starts in the Premier League this term.
While the 22-year-old is keen to be playing more regularly as he looks to seal a place in Bert van Marwijk's Holland squad for next summer's World Cup finals, he insists he does not want to make a move away from Anfield in search of more first-team action.

RVP Down

Arsene Wenger's love for International Friendlies is well documented and he has got 1 more reason to step up his love for the same. RVP is down and is out for almost 3 months. It is a major blow for our title aspirations and we@11Gunners look at the available alternatives now.

by CARL ELDRIDGE It looks likely that we won't know until late tonight or, more probably, tomorrow morning just how bad is the ankle injury RVP sustained playing against Italy for Holland at the weekend.

Reports suggest the in-form striker will have his injury assessed in Holland this evening with a series of scans but speculation is mounting that the problem will leave him sidelined for up to three months.

Van Persie was stretchered off against Italy.

Going into the international break this weekend, I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. It's the feeling that many football fans have before every international week; the feeling of impending disaster as we wait to see who the victims of these meaningless matches are.

Bert van Marwijk praised his defense. Which basically means Oranje didn't play well. "We couldn't bring it tonight. It was disappointing. You sometimes get those games. But it was pretty poor. Still, to not concede against Italy when you're not at your best means our defense and controlling players were

Ryan Babel has once again dismissed suggestions he wants to leave Liverpool FC in the summer while reiterating his desperation to regain a regular first-team role and safeguard a World Cup finals berth.
Despite the Anfield outfit's poor start to the season, Babel has made just two starts in the Premier League.

Liverpool are ready to offload motormouth Ryan Babel to Bayern Munich.
Boss Rafa Benitez lost patience after the Holland star complained about his lack of starts for the club in midweek.
He will be loaned to Louis van Gaal's side with a view to a £9million move in the summer.

Group E contains Japan, Cameroon, Netherlands and Denmark and should be a easy path to the knockout stages for Holland. Cameroon and Denmark will battle for second place and I expect Cameroon to edge Denmark out.

A look at Group E Teams

NETHERLANDS

Manager: Bert van Marwijk
Key player: Mark van Bommel
Best: Runners-up (1974, 1978)
World ranking: 3

The Netherlands were the first European side to qualify for South Africa, having won all eight of their games in Group Nine, conceding only twice in the process.

Japan coach Takeshi Okada reacted calmly to his nation's World Cup draw, after the Samurai Blue were drawn in Group E alongside the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon.
Having claimed that Japan are aiming for a semi-finals berth in South Africa, the Asian powerhouses must first negotiate a tough group that includes Bert van Marwijk's highly-fancied Dutch side.

Team manager Bert van Marwijk called Wesley Sneijder after his appearance at Studio Voetbal last Sunday night to explain to him what happened. Sneijder received several text-messages from mates telling him about the clash between Van Marwijk and Borst. Sneijder however, is not totally satisfied. The Inter playmaker wants a