The Dutch Olympic team will be down at least two players when it faces the United States on Sunday.
Veteran Dutch striker Roy Makaay, one of the Netherlands over-age players, and midfielder Evander Sno, are set to miss the vital showdown against the USA on Sunday. Makaay suffered a foot injury in the first half of the Dutch team’s scoreless draw with Nigeria, while Sno is set to serve a suspension for his red card late in the same match (a red card he drew after a studs-up challenge on Columbus Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo).
The Dutch team is still stacked with talented attacking stars Ryan Babel, Jonathan DeGuzman and Roysten Drenthe, but the short rest and hot weather could make the absence of those two players tougher to overcome.
Tests on Makaay’s foot revealed no break, but he will miss Sunday’s match.
Dutch head coach Foppe de Haan is sure to cause a stir after making less than flattering remarks about the U.S. team ahead of Sunday’s clash.
"Nigeria is confident on the ball," he said. "They have two very good strikers. The Americans are more of a team on the same level. They don’t have anybody extremely good.
"They’re totally different than Nigeria, in my opinion."
Somewhere, Jozy Altidore is taping thate statement to a wall.
What do you think about the Dutch facing the USA short-handed? Will Makaay’s absence make a difference? Will Jozy Altidore make the Dutch coach eat his words?
Share your thoughts below.