Tensions on the bench of the national team at the World Cup » The federation refuses to bring back the coach who obtained the qualification

The Caribbean island's Football Federation said it would not give in to pressure from players and sponsors who wanted to see Advocaat back on the bench. The latter managed, last November, to qualify Curacao, thus becoming the smallest country to reach a World Cup tournament.

Players want Dick Advocaat at the World Championship

The federation said it would continue to support Rutten, who took over from Advocaat at the end of February due to a serious illness of the latter's daughter.

“Fred Rutten to represent Curacao as national coach at World Cup”said the president of the federation, Gilbert Martina, to the Dutch media, quoted by sportal.bg.

Rutten's tenure began with a 2-0 loss to China, followed by a 5-1 defeat against Australia in two warm-up friendlies in March.

The latest information indicates that the players are hoping for the return of his popular predecessor, Dick Advocaat, after an improvement in his daughter's health.

“Decisions within the Football Association are based on more than just the wishes of the players and sponsors and are stipulated in the FFK statutes”Martina also declared.

Advocaat would have been the oldest coach at the World Cup if he had remained in office.

Surprise presence at the World Championship

Curacao, with a population of just over 150,000 and an area of ​​171 square miles, will play a friendly against Scotland at 'Hampden Park' on May 30 and have another test match scheduled against Aruba in early June.

At the World Cup, they will compete in Group E against Germany, Ecuador and Ivory Coast. It will be their first participation in the most important international competition in the world.