Analyst sneers at Van Nistelrooy: "We're not in Curaçao"

Ruud van Nistelrooy is preparing himself as assistant coach of the Netherlands national team for the 2026 World Cup in North America. The former PSV coach and player joined the technical staff a bit later due to the celebration of his fiftieth birthday on July 1.

This, however, went completely wrong for Theo Janssen, an analyst on behalf of, among others, Ziggo Sport and the NOS. Janssen lets this be known in the programme De Oranjezomer on SBS6.

''In the end, that can’t really work. Then you just go along and celebrate your birthday, but a few days earlier. With the Netherlands national team, you have to prepare seriously for the World Cup. We’re not in Curaçao. By the way, Cor Pot doesn’t do that either—he just celebrates it with the people here'', grumbles the former midfielder at the table with Hélène Hendriks.

According to Janssen, Van Nistelrooy could have celebrated his birthday in a different way without having to miss the first days of preparations for the World Cup. ''Just bring the family along. Because as far as football goes at the moment, it's not exactly something to look at'', the analyst said.

In addition, Janssen believes that national team coach Ronald Koeman should not have allowed it either. ''As an assistant, you just have to be there. Ronald Koeman should have said that he should simply have gone along. From start to finish. Van Nistelrooij should have celebrated his fiftieth birthday a week earlier'', concludes the former midfielder.