Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk is keen to play down his side being overwhelming favourites to win their World Cup semifinal against Uruguay on Tuesday, saying he doesn’t need the distraction.
The star-studded Dutch have a 100% record in South Africa and won all eight of their qualifying games, but Van Marwijk said he was only focusing on the match ahead.
“In the group phase, we were always the favourite, never the underdog. Against Brazil [in the quarterfinal], it was the other way around,” he said.
“I don’t really have an opinion on that. We just want to concentrate on ourselves, we don’t want to be misled or distracted by people thinking we are the favourites.”
High on confidence
Regardless, the Dutch are unquestionably a team riding high on confidence and a Uruguay win would go down as a major upset.
While Ajax defender Gregory van der Wiel and Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong are suspended and will not play, Van Marwijk still has a star-studded team.
Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben and Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder are the danger men, but he also has Liverpool’s ever-reliable Dirk Kuyt on the wing.
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has recovered from injury and the team can always rely on hugely experienced captain, 35-year-old Giovanni van Bronckhorst of Feyenoord.
“Van Bronckhorst can play anywhere, left, right, in the middle, it doesn’t matter. He is a great player to have on your team,” admitted the coach.
“Wesley is also playing an excellent tournament and we have others who are also doing well, but he is proving to be very sharp, very fit and he trained at 100% from day one.
“Kuyt is another who is extremely important to us and will always give a lift to the other players. His passion and enthusiasm is catching. I am very happy with him.”
‘We want to win with beautiful football’
Despite having plenty of talent, the Dutch have met criticism for not playing “beautiful” football, in contrast to sides like Argentina and Brazil, and even a rejuvenated Germany.
But Van Bronckhorst said the team was in South Africa to win the World Cup whatever way they can.
“Every game, you want to play well, the most important thing now is that we win matches,” said the veteran defender.
“In the past, we have started well and then gone on to lose, this time we are much closer and full of confidence.
“Of course, we want to win with beautiful football, but it is more important we win matches. This team always wants to play good football, but sometimes it is not possible.”
He added that it had become harder as the tournament progressed to turn on their trademark flowing football, hinting that the Uruguay match would be more of the same.
“It is becoming harder as we are in the last four, our opponents will be tough,” he said.
“If we win with beautiful football, great, but we would be happier with a victory.”
If Holland get through Tuesday’s test, then either Germany or Spain will await them in the July 11 final in Johannesburg as the Dutch look for their first World Cup title in their history.
Van Marwijk said he didn’t care who they might face, with the Uruguay clash his only concern.
“It doesn’t matter to me, a final is a final. The most important thing is to reach the final and we will pull out all the stops to make the final,” he said. — AFP