Holland captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst insists he understands the decision of Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy to end his international career.
The 32-year-old former Manchester United forward decided to hang up his Oranje boots last month following his side's defeat to Russia in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals in June.
Feyenoord player Van Bronckhorst told radio show Evers staat op: "I know the situation from my own time in Spain (with Barcelona).
"When you play at a top club, which is also playing in Europe, and you are an international, you lose so much time with travelling.
"It is unfortunate that he has retired. Ruud is one of the best players in the football world.
"We must respect his decision. We can't do anything about it. I might have taken the same decision if I would still have played in Spain.
"But now that I play at Feyenoord, the situation has changed and travelling is no longer a problem."
Holland, now under the guidance of Bert van Marwijk after Marco van Basten stepped down earlier this summer, take on Australia in a friendly in Eindhoven on Saturday evening before beginning their World Cup qualifying Group Nine campaign with a trip to FYR Macedonia on Wednesday.
Van Marwijk's team will be expected to bring home three points from Skopje, but Van Bronckhorst is refusing to take the European minnows lightly.
He added: "We have played against them several times in the last few years. Macedonia are always difficult opposition and we will not underestimate them."
Feyenoord player Van Bronckhorst told radio show Evers staat op: "I know the situation from my own time in Spain (with Barcelona).
"When you play at a top club, which is also playing in Europe, and you are an international, you lose so much time with travelling.
"It is unfortunate that he has retired. Ruud is one of the best players in the football world.
"We must respect his decision. We can't do anything about it. I might have taken the same decision if I would still have played in Spain.
"But now that I play at Feyenoord, the situation has changed and travelling is no longer a problem."
Holland, now under the guidance of Bert van Marwijk after Marco van Basten stepped down earlier this summer, take on Australia in a friendly in Eindhoven on Saturday evening before beginning their World Cup qualifying Group Nine campaign with a trip to FYR Macedonia on Wednesday.
Van Marwijk's team will be expected to bring home three points from Skopje, but Van Bronckhorst is refusing to take the European minnows lightly.
He added: "We have played against them several times in the last few years. Macedonia are always difficult opposition and we will not underestimate them."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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