Kluivert aims to prove Advocaat wrong

The Barcelona forward will be forced to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench for the Oranje's opening game of the tournament on Tuesday.

Advocaat has opted to deploy a 4-3-3 formation for the match in Oporto, with Ruud van Nistelrooy spearheading the attack.

The Dutch coach has plumped for that tactic after failing to be impressed with the van Nistelrooy-Kluivert partnership in the warm-up friendly against Republic of Ireland.

Kluivert admits he has not been at the peak of his form during the past 12 months but does not feel that is an excuse for his exclusion from the starting line-up.

"Ruud played the whole season at Manchester United so if Advocaat starts with him because he is in better shape then it is his choice," said Kluivert.

"It leaves me with no alternative but to prove the contrary.

"That Ruud and I didn't work out together is not only our failure. Together we had to cover too much space and made runs of 50 metres while I think our midfielders were supposed to do that.

"The two strikers were forced to work hard in defence and then we simply did not have the power to be decisive up front."

Kluivert is Holland's leading all-time scorer but was delivered another snub by Advocaat when he was not invited to a meeting to discuss tactics.

Advocaat spoke with van Nistelrooy, Edgar Davids, Philip Cocu and Frank de Boer and Kluivert was upset that he missed the talk.

He added: "I had expected that. I wanted to be there to know what they are talking about."