The standard of play in some Dutch Eredivisie football matches is ‘shocking’, even though many Dutch internationals play for the top clubs, says assistant coach Patrick Kluivert in free newspaper Spits.

‘This is worrying ahead of the World Cup, given 40% of our players turn out for the premier league,’ Kluivert, a former international and striker, is quoted as saying.

‘We have good junior training schemes but young talent is plucked out by clubs from bigger leagues far too soon. That is the main problem,’ Kluivert said.

Kluivert, 37, has been Louis van Gaal’s assistant for almost a year.