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International career (1981–1994)
On the international stage,
Rijkaard made his debut for the Netherlands in
1981. He was part of the Dutch side that won
Euro 88 with a 2–0 win in the final over the
Soviet Union, playing at center-back alongside
Ronald Koeman. He won a total of 73 caps and
scored 10 goals. Rijkaard also played for the
Netherlands during the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World
Cups and at Euro 92.
Rijkaard was involved in an
unsavoury incident with Rudi Völler when West
Germany played the Netherlands in the 1990 World
Cup. Rijkaard was booked for a bad tackle on
Voller, as Rijkaard took up position for the
free kick he spat in Völler's hair. Völler
complained to the referee and was booked as
well. From the resulting free kick, Voller then
dived, according to himself to avoid a collision
with Dutch Keeper Hans Van Breukelen, while
others, notably Rijkaard and Van Breukelen, saw
it as a dive in hopes for a penalty. Van
Breukelen was angry at this but Rijkaard again
confronted Völler by twisting his ear and
stamping on his foot. Both Völler and Rijkaard
were sent off but Rijkaard again spat in
Völler's hair as they left the pitch and was
rumoured to have repeated this on the touchline.
The German press nicknamed him "Llama" for his
spitting.
At Euro 92 Rijkaard scored a
late equalizer for the Netherlands in a 2–2 draw
with Denmark at the semi final stage but the
Dutch went out on penalties. He made his final
appearance for the Netherlands in the 3–2 defeat
against eventual winners Brazil in the
quarter-finals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup. |
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