Gary Lineker raves about Suarez

By: Jan | November 22nd, 2008

Half an hour before kick off at Ajax-PSV (last week), two behemoths in goalscoring joined along the touch line: 140 international games and 72 international goals: Gary Lineker (BBC analyst) and Marco van Basten (Ajax coach). Two of the world’s best strikers ever…

Van Basten came out of the dressing room to welcome his former rival (EC1988). The Ajax players look curiously, and some don’t recognize the WC1986 top scorer.

Brazilian winger Leonardo knows who he is and immediately introduces himself to the BBC Match of the Day presenter.

Some meters further, 15 year old Harry Lineker’s eyes widen: “Hey, that’s Leonardo. Great dribbler.”

Father and son Lineker landed on Schiphol at 10 am. The former Leicester, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and Grampus Eight striker wanted to see the two Dutch top clubs play and he will analyse the game for Dutch television.

Lineker is all smiles and his bodyguard will have an easy day. Everywhere Lineker goes, smiles and warm welcomes come his way.

Lineker smiles when he sees Van Basten and asks himself where they faced off each other last… “Oh hang on, the WC199) I guess in Palermo. That 0-0 draw. Yeah, I remember the 1988 game very well. Marco scored three against us, that was quite a lesson.” Lineker also remembers his encounter with John de Wolf, Feyenoord’s captain in the 1990s. Lineker’s other son George suffered cancer in that period. He overwon the disease, but back then, when Feyenoord player the Spurs in the early 1990s he was just diagnosed. De Wolf visited the Spurs dressing room after the game (Feyenoord ousted the Spurs from the Europa Cup 2 tournament) and presented a mini version of Feyenoord’s outfit to Lineker. “He was a beast on the pitch, that Wolf, but he had tears in his eyes when he presented the outfit to me… We still have it, you know.”

Linekers sons all play school football, but son Tobias (12) is already signed by Chelsea. In what position? Lineker grins… “They’re all strikers.”

Lineker raves about Luis Suarez. “He sees the game really well, he is constantly threatening and he moves and turns so quickly. The 1-0 was a beauty. Great touch with the left, brilliant finish with the right foot. He is clearly not bothered when he misses a chances. He’ll just try to score the next. Good strikers are like that.”

Later that day, he praises Emanuelson, the best man on the pitch. When confronted with questions about the level of quality in Holland, he says: “What do you expect, with all the best players playing in the EPL or in Madrid. But, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. That’s what it’s all about. I will be back!”

Going to the Arsenal game? Find out how to get to North London and where to stay near Emirates Stadium.