Michael Reiziger doesn’t blame Ruben van Bommel after his red card against Jong Portugal at the European Championship in Slovakia. The national coach saw Jong Oranje, with ten players, achieve a handsome 0-1 victory in Zilina and thus reach the semi-finals.
“I never blame players if they play with their heart. And Ruben has always done that for us,” Reiziger said after the victory at a press conference in the Stadion Pod Dubnom.
Van Bommel received a yellow card in the nineteenth minute for a foul on Rodrigo Pinheiro, and two minutes later, he was sent off. A sliding tackle on Geovany Quenda’s leg earned the AZ player his second yellow card and therefore a red card.
Afterwards, Van Bommel was not available for the media. He did address his teammates in the dressing room.
“He asked me: can I say something? Of course, he could say something,” Reiziger said. “He is part of the team and encouraged the team after his red card. That was very nice.”
With ten against eleven, Jong Oranje held their ground, although they were lucky that Quenda shot a penalty against the post. In the final phase, Ernest Poku shot Reiziger’s team to the last four.
“I am proud of what the boys did today,” Reiziger said. “They fought for every meter. We went very deep.”
In the semi-final, Jong Oranje faces another tough task, because then title holder England is the opponent in Bratislava. Ruben van Bommel misses the semi-final due to a suspension, and he is not the only player of Jong Oranje. Kenneth Taylor and Devyne Rensch are also suspended.
