Blackburn Rovers defender: I will bounce back from Euro nightmare

8:50am Friday 8th August 2008

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By Andy Neild »

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ROVERS defender Andre Ooijer is determined to shrug off his post-Euro 2008 blues by cementing a regular starting place in Paul Ince’s back four.

The veteran centre-back openly admits he is still struggling to come to terms with the bitter disappointment of Holland’s shock elimination from the European Championships earlier this month.

After making an electric start to the tournament, beating both France and Italy in exhilarating style in the group stages, Marco van Basten’s squad were tipped to go all the way in Switzerland and Austria.

However, any dreams the Dutch had of repeating their famous European triumph of 1988 then came unstuck, when they were unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by Guus Hiddink’s Russia in the quarter-finals.

For someone like Ooijer, who, at the age of 34, is nearing the end of his international career, that defeat was a shattering blow, because it could well have been his last chance of glory.

But the former PSV Eindhoven star, who was one of Holland’s most consistent performers at the Euros, knows he must now draw a line under the whole experience, and focus instead on the challenge of winning over his new boss at Rovers.

Reflecting on Holland’s exit, Ooijer said: “To be honest, I haven’t succeeded in dealing with that yet.

“Being knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals proved to be very painful.

“Expectations ran sky high after we had emphatically beaten the world champions Italy and the vice-world champions France, and it was not only the fans that had high expectations; the squad was also brimming with confidence and looking forward to reaching the next stage.

“It was too bad we were knocked out by the Russians.

“I realise I am 34 now and it may be different for a 20-year old player, who has a long career ahead of him.

“But this may very well have been the last opportunity for me to win a major trophy.

“I think the chances I will ever lift the Champions League trophy with Rovers are very slim.”

Although images of that painful defeat to Russia are still fresh in Ooijer’s memory, the Dutchman accepts he must now look forwards rather than back, and that means concen-trating on winning his place back at Blackburn.

In the eyes of many observers, Ooijer was Rovers’ most consistent defender last term.

Yet, when it came to the crunch, former boss Mark Hughes, somewhat controversially, decided to drop him from the team, at a time during the run-in when Rovers were desperate for victories.

Now with Hughes having moved elsewhere, and Ince installed as his replacement, the defender knows he must prove himself all over again.

“Last season I was dropped to the bench for the last five games and I was not amused,” said the Dutchman.

“But that was when Mark Hughes was in charge.

“Paul Ince is at the helm now, and he has promised each player will be given a fair chance, so we all start afresh.

“I have no idea how things will eventually develop, but he will undoubtedly inform me if and how I will feature in his plans.”

As for what the long-term future holds, Ooijer seems to be focused on seeing out the remaining year of his contract at Rovers, despite offers to return to Holland.

“It’s flattering to be linked with other clubs but I am enjoying life in Lancashire and so are my family,” said the defender.

“We have a great squad here and the team spirit is wonderful.”

Ooijer also has one eye on representing at Holland at the next World Cup, by which point he will be 36.

“I have no intention of calling time on my career,” he added.

“The World Cup in South Africa will take place in two years. I am still ambitious and feel fit, so I don’t feel like hanging up my boots yet.

“I think I have shown I am still capable of playing football at this level. If I manage to meet expectations at Blackburn, I feel I can still play my part in the Dutch team as well.”