The build-up of the Euro 2008 is in full flow, with participating countries announcing their provisional squads for the showpiece tournament which kicks off on June 7 in Basle. Yet for the Dutch, the ghosts of previous tournaments have already emerged after Clarence Seedorf declined his invitation to participate.

It's not the first time the AC Milan man has refused national service. Before Euro 2004, he withdrew from Dick Advocaat's squad after complaining about the coach's tactics. Refusing to play in any position other than behind the front two, he parted ways with the squad after publicly stating his case. "I feel strongly and think that my qualities stand out well in that position. For me it is out of the question that I will start the tournament in another position."

This time Marco van Basten is on the receiving end - and once again Seedorf's pride will be the reason for his absence. During the start of Van Basten's reign, he imposed a strict change in policy, moving away from the unsuccessful old guard and opting for new blood. Caught in the cull was Seedorf, who found himself in the international wilderness from 2004-2006, including the World Cup in Germany. 

Like a volcano waiting to erupt, Seedorf has chosen to use this summer's tournament as his platform to stick two fingers up at Van Basten. Admitting "this would have been the last European Championships for me", he again went public to explain his decision. "It was a dream to be with the Netherlands, and already I had a dream taken away from me at the World Cup in Germany. I couldn’t have done anything else – otherwise I would have gone against my integrity."

The loser in all of this will be the Dutch fans, who have been forced to weather of long history of bickering, infighting and ego clashes which have been endemic in the team in the build-up to previous major tournaments.

In 1978 Johan Cruyff and Willem van Hanegem refused to play at the World Cup finals in Argentina. (The pair's absence was always attributed as a stand against the military junta that controlled Argentina at the time. However, in recent weeks Cruyff has revealed that a kidnap attempt during which he and his family were threatened with a rifle forced his withdrawal.) Then, before USA 94, Ruud Gullit was the big-name deserter, walking out on Advocaat after criticising his tactics. Most recently, prior to Euro 96 Edgar Davids criticised coach Guus Hiddink and was sent home.