LONDON (AP) — Dutch soccer great Johan Cruyff says Netherlands midfielder Nigel de Jong needs to clean up his game after a leg-breaking tackle cost him a spot on the national team.
Cruyff endorses coach Bert van Marwijk’s decision to drop De Jong. The Manchester City player had challenged Hatem Ben Arfa, breaking the forward’s leg during an English Premier League against Newcastle.
Cruyff says De Jong has “crossed the line two or three times now.”
De Jong also injured U.S. midfielder Stuart Holden this year, and World Cup referee Howard Webb has said he would have sent off De Jong in the World Cup final had he seen his chest-high foul on Spain’s Xabi Alonso.
