| 02.06.2008 |
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| Training camps and friendlies are a necessary evil in the prelude to a major competition and while they give a coach time to refine his strategy and finalize his starting line-ups, each session and every game comes with the risk that instead of cementing plans, they can throw a whole campaign into chaos. While the cruel injury sustained by Dutch winger Ryan Babel on Saturday may not mean the end to the Netherlands' assault on Euro 2008, the ligaments the Liverpool forward tore in his ankle during preparations for a practice match with Wales will rob the "Oranje" of a potent attacking option and the tournament of young talent itching to make his mark. Liverpool supporters on the whole have been extremely impressed with Babel's first season in England. Once coach Rafa Benitez decided where the 21-year old Dutch flyer's talents could best be utilized and gave him a run in the starting eleven, Babel started to look like a snip at 17 million euros.  After a shaky start, the former Ajax forward's most valuable talents -- electric pace, confidence on the ball and an eye for goal -- began to gel to make him an unpredictable threat, flitting in from the sidelines to compliment the blooming partnership of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. By the time the whistle went on Liverpool's league campaign, Babel was just getting into his stride. He looked like a player who didn't want to stop playing – and at the time, he seemed buzzing at the prospect of a whole summer of games in which to stretch himself further. It remains unclear whether Holland coach Marco van Basten was thinking of using Babel as an impact substitute or playing him from the start as part of his rapid attacking formation. However, it matters not now as Babel will neither be on the bench or the pitch with his nation this summer but on various treatment tables and crutches for anywhere between six weeks and six months, depending on how bad the injury turns out to be. While the Dutch will dig deep into their squad and find another attacking possibility to replace him, Babel's non-involvement in Euro 2008 will undoubtedly be a loss for Holland and even more so for the crowds who were expecting to see how this special talent handled the big international stage. |
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