Ruud's "king of the off-side trap"
Friday, June 13, 2008

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari described Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy on Tuesday as the "King of Off-side" insisting the Real Madrid forward's controversial goal against Italy was off-side.

Van Nistelrooy's opening goal for Holland in their 3-0 trouncing of world champions Italy in Monday's Euro 2008 Group C match was legal despite a clear offside said European football's governing body UEFA on Tuesday.

But Scolari disagreed with UEFA's ruling, saying the goal should not have been allowed, and said van Nistelrooy is an expert at pushing defences to the limits.

"He is the king of Off-side and is the best player in the world at beating the off-side trap," said Scolari at Portugal's Euro 2008 base here on Tuesday.

"To allow the goal creates confusion amongst the players, it was not valid, it shouldn't have been allowed."

But UEFA's secretary-general David Taylor said that even though van Nistelrooy was clearly offside the fact Italian defender Christian Panucci was behind the goalline without seeking permission from the officials placed the goalscorer onside.

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