Dutch to battle upset-seeking Denmark
JOHANNESBURG:
The Netherlands open their World Cup campaign against Denmark determined to brush off their tag of ‘group-phase heroes, knock-out stage zeros’.
The Dutch have never won the World Cup but reached the final in 1974 and 1978 playing their brand of flowing football and are favourites to win Group E. But it is the knockout stage that is their worry.
“Normally we play good football, but don’t get very far,” said midfielder Mark van Bommel.
The Danes are not here to make up the numbers, as Liverpool defender Daniel Agger insisted.
“There are four teams in the group and everybody’s competing for those top two places, not just Holland,” said Agger.
The Dutch, led by Arsenal’s Van Persie, are almost sure to be without Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, who arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday after receiving treatment for a thigh strain.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 14th, 2010.
The Netherlands open their World Cup campaign against Denmark determined to brush off their tag of ‘group-phase heroes, knock-out stage zeros’.
The Dutch have never won the World Cup but reached the final in 1974 and 1978 playing their brand of flowing football and are favourites to win Group E. But it is the knockout stage that is their worry.
“Normally we play good football, but don’t get very far,” said midfielder Mark van Bommel.
The Danes are not here to make up the numbers, as Liverpool defender Daniel Agger insisted.
“There are four teams in the group and everybody’s competing for those top two places, not just Holland,” said Agger.
The Dutch, led by Arsenal’s Van Persie, are almost sure to be without Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben, who arrived in Johannesburg on Saturday after receiving treatment for a thigh strain.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 14th, 2010.