Boudewijn Zenden will not be starting against Portugal tonight because he is not one of the coach's 'favourites', his father Pierre said.
'My son should be playing tonight,' Pierre said. 'But he is not one of Dick Advocaat's favourites, so he sits on the bench.
'I have no problems with Advocaat, but he has his favourites and you can see the players who follow him around from club to club. I think my son is as good as [Giovanni] van Bronckhorst or even [Clarence] Seedorf on the left flank and I, without wishing any injury to either of these players, would be so proud to see him in the starting line-up.
'I would love to see my son come on and score the winner overlapping down the wing, but if anybody has to beat them, I can reluctantly accept Portugal. The people have shown great hospitality and I can't think of a better team to beat us than them.
'And I can tell you something else contrary to all you read in the newspapers. My son told me there is a good feeling in the Dutch camp. The problems are all caused by the Dutch media who are always looking for a story.'
Pierre Zenden is right about one thing, the Dutch media are a vicious lot, who think they should be picking the team.