Van Nistelrooy quits national team

Ruud van Nistelrooy has told the Netherlands coach Marco van Basten that he is no longer available to play for the national team.

The 30-year-old Real Madrid striker, capped 54 times by his country, has not featured at international level since the World Cup finals last summer.

"[It is] disappointing, I always played for Oranje with much pleasure and I would have liked to continue to do that," Van Nistelrooy said in a statement yesterday.

Van Basten revealed he and assistant John van 't Schip had held talks with the striker. "We have had a good conversation on Friday about the co-operation over the past year. We ironed out some folds. And with that there was a base to come together again," he said.

Van Basten told Van Nistelrooy that he could not guarantee him a starting place in the side.

"We have told Ruud when he asked us about this, that the situation about his position is no longer the same as a year ago. In 2006, we saw other candidates for the striking position. That is why he should be prepared to compete with the others. We cannot guarantee him a starting place."

That standpoint was the obstacle for Van Nistelrooy to make himself available.

Van Nistelrooy said: "I did not specifically ask for a place in the side, but I did want to have the feeling that I would be a candidate for that. I did not get that feeling. That is why I don't see the conditions to give a good performance. No one benefits from frustration. That's why this was a difficult but correct decision."