Manchester United star Robin van Persie has issued a warning not to write off the Dutch as they get their World Cup campaign underway against defending champions Spain.
The Dutch captain is expected to start at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador in a repeat of the 2010 final which saw the men in orange beaten in extra-time.
However, 30-year-old van Persie believes that the current Netherlands squad has more than enough quality to cause Spain problems.
He said: “Spain have a fantastic team, with players like Diego Costa and David de Gea, my team-mate at Manchester United, and in my opinion have the best team in the world.
“But we are also very good, so don’t forget that and do not underestimate Holland.”
The Oranje’s 2010 World Cup campaign was dogged by tensions within the squad, however van Persie believes that with in-coming Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal at the helm the squad is in a much better position to succeed at the tournament.
Van Persie said: “Although as a squad, we may be much younger than four years ago, there are also lots of opportunities.
“We have to prove ourselves again, but it is also a great challenge.
“In the past, what we often saw were jokes being made (within the squad) at the beginning, but now I think that is less and this is purely because of our focus.
“We are looking forward to it and are really eager to get started.
“I have faith in our team, if we – and I mean not only the players, but also the staff and the Dutch press – can say that we have had a very nice tournament, then whatever the outcome, for us the World Cup will have been more than successful.”
Van Persie, who spent a long portion of the Premier League season on the treatment table at United, has also insisted that he is fit and raring get his third World Cup underway.
He said: “The last few days I have trained fully and so have no more problems. I am ready for it.
“Besides, for six years I have been playing with aches and pains, there is always something and I have learned to live with it.”
Meanwhile van Persie’s teammate and ex-Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong is remaining focused on tonights game.
“I want to keep my mouth closed and let my football talk, so silence is the best cure,” said De Jong, now with AC Milan.
“That is one of the two things I have from my home, the second is always fight harder than the person next to you.
“I always go with a positive feeling to play for Oranje, always with confidence in my own ability and in my own qualities.”
De Jong, 29, feels Holland have what it takes to cause an upset if they stick to their footballing ethos.
“You should not just get carried away that Spain is better than the Dutch team,” he said.
“You need to look at how best you can fight against them and how best you can comply with the Dutch school of football.”
Image courtesy of OnsOranje via YouTube, with thanks.
