European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 30, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                World cup �?T90injuries, turmoil bedevil Holland by Raf casert Amsterdam Netherlands apr the Netherlands champions of Europe and a favorite to win the world cup Are in As much turmoil As a last place team. The coach was fired because the players disliked him and then tried to hang on to his Job through the courts. The Star player missed a year with a knee injury a new coach a he also was an old coach a was hired less than two months before the world cup opener. And All of soccer is wondering if a not will break out when the dutch team plays England on june 16. A a it a about time we got All this Over with a dutch Captain Ruud Gullet said. A a it a starting to look ridiculous. Its going beyond All  Gullet Marco Van Basten and other dutch players Manu Evered to get coach Thijs lib regts fired. I brents hired in 1988, went to court but lost. A it has been two years since the european championships and for two years it has been nothing a Gullet said. A it is a Miracle we qualified for the world  the federation replaced lib regts with Ajax Amsterdam coach Leo been Alder who coached the Netherlands team that failed to qualify for the 1986 world cup. Van Basten nearing top from wire reports Marco Van Basten established himself As one of the worlds great players in the hot Sunshine of West Germany two years ago. And he could Well underline his status under hot italian skies this summer. Van Basten 25, scored five goals a a hat trick against England and one in both the semifinal and final a As Holland won the european championship for the first time in 1988. His goal against the soviet Union in the final when he twisted his body in mid air and scored with an almost impossibly angled dipping Volley was one of the Best in years. Although not All his goals Are that spectacular he scores so regularly for italian Champion a Milan that he has been voted the european player of the year for the past two years and is reportedly the second highest paid player in the world with an annual salary of $3.5 million. Going into the world cup Van Bas tends goal scoring skills in the italian league Are unmatched. He plays with dutch compatriot Ruud Gullet on a Milan and the two could put their stamp on the world cup and give the Netherlands their first Golden trophy. Van Basten 25, needs Only to continue churning out the goals like he has done All season. A i think in a playing an unparalleled season a he said. A the last couple of months might Well be the Best of my whole  the dutch Star has Superb control of the Ball when under pressure is Strong and courageous in the penalty area and has that great scorers Knack of instinctively being in the right place at the right time. Van Basteni a potential was so obvious As an 18-year-old with Ajax Amsterdam that Ajax was Able to sell 1982 european scoring Champion Wim Kieft just a year alter he had won the title and replace him with the Young Van Basten. In 1984, Van Basten was himself runner up in the goal scoring standings with goals in 26 matches. In 1986 he won it scoring 37 goals in Zub games. The following season 1986-87, he scored 31 goals in 26 games including Ajax s Winner in the european cup winners cup final. That a when a Milan bought him for nearly $3 million. An ankle injury meant he missed most a it Milan a title winning season in 1987 a a the federation took my last doubts away and finally talked me into it a Beenhakker said. Players had wanted pc Barcelona coach Johan Ruyff Captain of the dutch team that lost to West Germany in the 1974 world cup final. Meanwhile Gullet returned to the Field april 22 after an 11-month Layoff following surgery to repair ligaments in his right knee. Gullet plays for a Milan of the italian league along with dutch teammates Basten and Frank Rikja Ard. Gullet is the key to the Netherlands offence and it remains to be seen whether he fill be at full strength when the dutch team opens against Egypt on june 12. A what Gullet can do physically just defies reasoning a said Erwin Koeman a fellow midfielder who witnessed Gullity a imposing presence at the european championships two years ago when the dutch team beat the soviet Union for the title. England and Ireland Are the other teams in group of which is based on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. English and dutch fans Are the most notorious soccer hooligans in Europe and italian authorities Are devoting tremendous Effort to prevent violence. Two years ago the dutch team was the Toast of Europe with its free flowing play. But that was missing Marco Van Basten left and Ruud Gullet celebrate a 1988 Victory by their dutch team. 88, playing Only 11 times and scoring just three goals. Then with Only a handful of games played he helped Holland become the european Champion. He continued scoring last season with 19 goals in 33 games to finish in a tie Lor second highest scorer in Italy along with Napolis brazilian striker Areca. Only Aldo Serena with 22 for new Champion Inte Razionale of Milan scored More. That prompted Milan to give Van Basten a new $10 million contract last win Ter. Only Argentina a Diego Maradona earns More. Despite All his Success Van Basten remains a modest Man. After a Milan had beaten real Madrid in the second round of the european cup in november the italian clubs players embraced each other wildly. But Van Basten walked Back to the dressing room smiling silently. A a in a thinking analytically when in Mon the Field and i done to let myself get caught up in emotions. I guess i can consider myself to belong to the class of better forwards but in a still not finished with my development a he says. In world cup qualifying partly because of Gullity a absence. A to put it simply the unique atmosphere of two years ago has gone a said Ronald Koeman a dutch defender who plays for Barcelona. Warmup games Haven to been encouraging. The Netherlands lost to Brazil 1-0, played a scoreless tie against Italy and beat the soviet Union 2-1. Meanwhile midfielder Erwin Koeman seriously injured his knee and midfielder Marcel Peeper broke a leg. Forward Johnny Bosman is out for several weeks because of injury and key defender Adric Vantiggelen is at the Start of a slow recovery program. But the dutch do have Van Basten the two time european player of the year. He scored a league leading 19 goals for Milan this year and led them to the european cup final against Bennica. The Netherlands also can count on players such As Ronald Koeman and Gerald Vanenburg of Psi Eindhoven both of whom can turn a game around with a single move. Despite the coaching crisis and the injuries Many experts still rate the dutch among the top six contenders. Dutch Riding Gullity a knee Amsterdam Netherlands apr Ruud Gullity slender right knee will carry the Hope of the dutch in the world cup. If the knee fails most observers feel the team will too. At his Best Gullet has the Energy and authority to Power a whole team As he did in 1988 when the Netherlands won the european championships. When sidelined the National team has been lacklustre. So soccer fans Are anxiously watching the slowly Healing knee to Sec whether a fit Gullet can compete with Argentina a Diego Maradona Tor Star status at the world cup. A i am far from being in top condition right now but i think i have reached about 50 percent of my form a he said after ending an 11-month Layoff last month. That makes it Likely the energetic All Rounder wont know for sure he is Back to his Best until the world cup starts. His health is considered More vital to the team than Marco Van Basteni a was for the 1988 european championships when the striker came Back from two ankle operations to secure a last ditch place on the team and stun opposition with five goals in As Many games. A you know that your condition cannot get any worse so something inside you pushes you to do better and build yourself Back up a said Van Basten in support of his a Milan teammate. Pushing himself beyond the limit was what got Gullet 27, into trouble in the first place. Determined to play the 1989 european champions cup final he disregarded a right knee injury incurred Only weeks before. He scored twice to give Milan the trophy but had to Limp off the Field before the game finished. With the Netherlands in dire straights during a world cup qualifier a few months later the injured Gullet came on As a substitute to assist on the winning goal against Finland helping the dutch Clinch their qualifying group. But each time he played his condition worsened extending his recovery period to almost a year. A to the Benefit of All i played the two games. As a result almost a year has passed without playing a he said. When he is in shape everybody notices. He roams the length and Width of the Field winning balls spreading Silken passes and scoring goals at vital stages. His braided hair Only adds to his awesome presence