The Netherlands has revealed a new headache after influential midfielder Clarence Seedorf submitted his request to withdraw from the national team ahead of the UEFA EURO 2008.

He has spoken to national coach Marco van Basten through the telephone on Monday which van Basten conveyed with much shock and bewilderment. Van Basten had depended much on the experience and rigor that Seedorf would bring into the team and to mount a challenge at the tournament. now he has to find a replacement at nearly the eleventh hour. He said "I did not expect this at all. I told Clarence I have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a football player, but his mind was already made up."

Seedorf is seen as one of the main players in the squad, having scored 11 times in all 87 appearances for the national team. In his statement, he said that  "It is a decision that comes after serious consideration and months of reflection. Since my return to the national team, the right conditions have not been created to let me perform at my best and to effectively excel as the team member I always strive to be." Under the management of Marco van Basten, Seedorf has played 10 times, five as starters while the rest coming on from the bench.

He iterated that his decision to withdraw has nothing to do with whether he is retiring from international football. He however is seeking to renew his position in the national team under new coach Bert van Marwijk, who will be taking over the team from van Basten after the EURO 2008 tournament. Seedorf believe that he still has much to offer in his playing years while offering to renew his options for the new coach. Seedorf said “I still hope that in the future I can once again proudly wear the Orange jersey, especially as the Dutch team prepares for what I hope will be a very successful campaign for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa."