By Theo Ruizenaar
STUTTGART, June 15 - Dutch master Johan Cruyff is
satisfied with the Netherlands progress so far at the World Cup
as they prepare to face Ivory Coast on Friday in Stuttgart.
After the Dutch held a final training session on Thursday in
the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium before their second Group C match
Cruyff spoke with Netherlands coach Marco van Basten.
He also told reporters: "The defence has improved a lot and
is still developing. Wesley Sneijder is doing very well, we know
his skills as midfielder but he has improved his defending."
During his early days as a young striker at Ajax Amsterdam
Van Basten played with Cruyff and years later the captain of the
1974 World Cup runners-up became his coach.
The pair have always been close and when after Euro 2004 the
Dutch FA asked Cruyff who should be the new national team coach
he put forward Van Basten as a suitable candidate.
"We talk regularly, not only about football," said Cruyff.
Van Basten added: "It is always good to talk with Johan
about football because he holds strong views and they can be in
our best interests".
Van Basten has no injury problems and is likely to start
with the team that beat Serbia & Montenegro 1-0 on Sunday.
"They (Ivory Coast) have to win and will do everything for
it," said Van Basten. "We will try to play our own game, though
that will be tough against a strong opponent."
Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also underlined the strength of
the African side, who are making their World Cup debut.
Van Nistelrooy wants to make up for his below-par
performance on his own World Cup debut, but is still full of
confidence despite being criticised in the Dutch media.
"I will be difficult because their display against Argentina
is the best I have seen so far this tournament," he told
reporters referring to Ivory Coast's 2-1 opening defeat.