UEFA Euro 2004 Portugal
Bench-up frustration!
AFP, Lisbon
Dutch forward Patrick Kluivert expressed his bitter disappointment after seeing the Netherlands crash out of Euro 2004 after a run to the semi-final achieved with their top scorer sat on the bench throughout.Kluivert was the only outfield player in the Dutch squad not to see action at the tournament as coach Dick Advocaat doggedly used only Ruud Van Nistelrooy as his attacking spearhead. The policy backfired as the Dutch went down in the semi with just an own goal from Jorge Andrade to cheer them in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat as Van Nistelrooy failed to add to his four goal-tally in the tournament. And Kluivert was seething afterwards as he and the 'Oranje' prepared to pack their bags. "I am frustrated. I am Holland's top scorer (with 40 goals to Van Nistelrooy's 18). "I feel as if I am in form and yet I did not play a single minute," said the Barcelona star who prior to the match embraced former clubmate and Portugal skipper Luis Figo. "Holland did not deserve to get to the final," was Kluivert's parting shot.
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