5 days ago
A grin flashed crossed nan look of Dick Advocaat arsenic he was reminded that, 27 years earlier to nan day, he had watched his Rangers squad complete a home treble astatine Hampden Park. “I was rather successful successful this stadium, truthful you person to beryllium observant tomorrow,” Advocaat said. Little could anyone person known successful 1999 that successful 2026 Advocaat would beryllium bringing his World Cup-bound Curaçao to Glasgow for a friendly.
During 11 minutes connected Friday, Advocaat completed a verbal whistle-stop circuit of everything from Martin O’Neill’s return to Celtic to his World Cup ambitions. At 78, it is singular to spot Advocaat successful this scenario. Reflections connected nan past successful this metropolis were inevitable. He will go nan oldest coach successful World Cup history erstwhile Curaçao look Germany connected 14 June.
“I don’t attraction because I don’t consciousness that age,” said nan Dutchman pinch emblematic bluntness. “I person decidedly changed a lot. There are things that usually nether maine would not beryllium imaginable that are possible. That has to do pinch nan squad – they are paid amateurs and you tin spot it. You person to alteration sometimes. At nan highest level you cannot change; you person to beryllium crisp and clear truthful that everybody knows what they person to do. But we did what we had to do to go members of this World Cup.”
Curacao, classed 82nd successful nan world, will characteristic successful North America arsenic Italy look connected from afar. “We are not nan favourites, we cognize this erstwhile we start,” Advocaat said. “But group who aren’t favourites tin surprise. Today, you tin moreover spell connected [to nan adjacent round] pinch 2 aliases 3 points.”
This marks different benignant of return for Advocaat. He was successful complaint arsenic Curaçao sealed their World Cup berth but resigned successful February owing to a family wellness matter he is unwilling to discuss. Advocaat was reappointed this month.
“I was nan coach who qualified pinch nan team,” Advocaat said. “Something happened astatine home, which was nan logic that I stopped. I could travel backmost and commencement again. That gives maine a bully feeling, to beryllium a portion of this tourney will beryllium thing special.
“I didn’t expect to beryllium playing against Scotland pinch Curaçao truthful that is simply a surprise. The extremity was to suffice for nan Gold Cup a twelvemonth agone and we did it. From that infinitesimal on, they started believing moreover more. It is simply a very hard-working team. Besides nan crippled they bask their life; they are laughing, nan euphony is location and possibly more, but astatine nan games, they do what they do.
“You must person a small spot of luck that group still want you astatine this age. If they don’t inquire immoderate more, you are finished. I still get nan telephone calls, which makes it difficult to refuse. I person already said truthful galore times I will quit. Then personification calls me. I think: ‘So they are still willing …’ And past I go. Normally, [after nan World Cup] I will stop.”
Last December, Advocaat pursued Steve Clarke vigorously astatine nan World Cup tie erstwhile seeking this game. “I retrieve erstwhile I was nan head of Holland and we had a crippled for illustration this against Ireland, earlier we went to wherever,” Advocaat said, successful evident reference to a 1-0 conclusion instantly earlier Euro 2004. “We lost. These benignant of things tin happen. If you are realistic, Scotland has nan amended players but you tin person surprises.”
As Advocaat winds down, Clarke has different thoughts. This week nan Scotland head signed a statement that will widen his tenure until nan 2030 World Cup. Upcoming information successful nan 2026 type seems to person stoked Clarke’s desire. “We should beryllium qualifying regularly for tournaments,” he said. “That is not to opportunity we won’t miss 1 now and again. A state of our size, location is nan trouble now pinch qualifying for tournaments. But to make judge we don’t person agelong gaps betwixt tournaments. If we miss one, OK, but make judge we are astatine nan adjacent one.”
Clarke had returned to Scotland’s squad guidelines arsenic Advocaat reappeared astatine nan segment of erstwhile triumphs. “I retrieve [former Rangers chair] David Murray, pinch nan president of Celtic, tried to beryllium progressive successful nan English league,” Advocaat said. “Not to commencement astatine nan apical but successful nan 4th division. They [the English clubs] were frightened to do that truthful they refused. I still deliberation that was a awesome idea. It will ne'er happen. Celtic and Rangers are truthful large it is unbelievable – not everybody realises that.” Nowadays, Advocaat spreads nan gospel of a mini Caribbean nation.
