Netherlands have the team to win it
Netherlands have the team to win it
Posted: 2010-06-26 15:58
Ajax Cape Town Head of Youth Maarten Stekelenburg believes the Netherlands will go a lot further than just the Last 16 encounter against Slovakia.
Netherlands’ chances
I think Holland has a good chance because the coach has some nice choices to make. Just look at the make-up of the team: Arjen Robben can play on the right like he does at Bayern Munich, or he can play left-wing, on his stronger foot. Dirk Kuyt, who usually plays on right but is not a real winger, offers the team strength and competitiveness. Rafael van der Vaart can play on either wing and in the middle. The ‘number 10’ will be Wesley Sneijder, with Robin van Persie up-front. It’s a good attack and the coach will have to decide which player does not start.
Robben’s injuries
It’s important not to peak too early in a tournament and the fact that Robben did not start meant other players have to raise their game in the opening stages. It happened like this for Holland in the Euro 1988 when Marco van Basten started injured. When he came back, as the star player, he raised the bar even higher towards the end of the tournament and Holland won.
Dutch defence
The Dutch are known for attacking football and because of this you give space away for opponents to attack. So what now? If I was coach, I’d make the spaces much smaller when the opponent has the ball to help the team defend better. With Sneijder, Van Persie and Robben you have players with great transition and speed. The question is whether the team’s style is to drop back deep and go forward with quick attacks, or play higher up the field in the opponent’s half. But if the team does this and leaves big spaces open to exploit, I think we’ll struggle. Right-back Gregory van der Wiel is young, but quality. Arsenal are knocking on his door already. Gio van Bronckhorst has a lot of experience; he may not be quick, but he is valuable. John Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen can both do the job.
Van Bommel and De Jong
The defensive midfield has a big role to play, especially when Holland get forward and attack. They will be relied on to close down the spaces and protect the defence. Both are in good form and will be very important in the team.
Is the goalkeeper safe?
Maarten Stekelenburg (no relation!) is fairly young for a goalkeeper, but he has come through the ranks and can be trusted. He was an outfield player at an amateur club, I think it was Under-15, and after someone got injured he went in goal and did so well that Ajax scouts got hold of him. He’s now come right through the Ajax system and you know what they say: Every coach says you must start building your team with a good goalkeeper.
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