Euro 2008

Maldini Tells Van Basten: Lose & Forget Milan Job

Former Italy coach Cesare Maldini is confident that Holland will not deliberately lose their match against Romania on Tuesday night because if they do so Marco Van Basten can forget any ambitions he has of coaching in Serie A.

Jun 15, 2008 5:16:59 PM

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Cesare Maldini (Foto Grazia Neri)

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The Dutch have already qualified for the quarter finals as group winners having thrashed Italy and France 3-0 and 4-1 respectively in their first two games.

Both World Cup finalists must now go for a win in their game, and hope that Holland can do them a favour against Romania.

However there are obvious conspiracy theories that Marco Van Basten’s men may throw the game in order to eliminate France and Italy who are potential semi-final opponents.

Former national team coach Cesare Maldini, who led the Azzurri at the 1998 World Cup today visited the Azzurri training camp, and he believes that Holland will play fair.

“I can guarantee Van Basten and the Dutch's seriousness. I travel the world and I know how they think," said the father of Paolo.

“Against Romania they will play seriously. And I also want to say something else. Van Basten has a two year contract [with Ajax after the Euros] but I know that after he wants to come to coach in Italy.

"Will it be at Milan? We will see. But for sure he will want to arrive in Italy with a clean slate, and he cannot do this by losing to the Romanians on purpose.”

Anthony Sormani