Oranje is Oranje’s only enemy…

Some sponsor thought it was fun to have Bert van Marwijk pose for the cameras next to a fake World Cup trophee. That must be great publicity, they must have though. A quick smile, a snap and wham bam, our sales will go through the roof…

The picture was taken indeed, but Van Marwijk couldn’t manage a smile. The team manager snarled that “it’s all typically Dutch and very presumptious…”. The coach: “This is just not me. I don’t like these circus acts. Let’s first qualify for crying out loud…”. And away he walked, leaving the excited pr people of the phone company alone with their cup.

Van Marwijk wants to be consistent with his messages. “You can smile and be proud after you win the title. Anything before that is out of place. You know, our biggest weakness is thinking that we’re really good. Once you believe that, you lose. We need to be on our toes. Oranje can be it’s own biggest enemy like that. I want focus!”.

Van Marwijk would love to have declined the sponsor deal, but it is part of the job. So he does it. “But I don’t have to like it.”

Van Marwijk warns all involved. Again. “There’s a real danger of thinking “we’re there”, when we’re not. When the standings are as they are, it’s vital to keep on focusing on what’s at hand. I discussed immediately after the win over Scotland. We want to qualify. That’s goal number 1. Goal number 2 then, is getting as far as possible on the WC. That means winning the finals. But to reach those goals, saying them out loud is one thing, focusing and working hard is another. And I’ve told the players this too: if there’s a player who can’t handle being benched, I don’t have time for him and I certainly won’t take that player to the WC. It’s that simple. You’re in, or you’re out! And I will give that process my utmost attention. I don’t have to teach these boys to play football. But I will have to focus on the process, the discipline and the team unity.”

Benching Sneijder was a psychological master stroke. Every one realizes that there are no positions to be claimed. Positions in the starting line up need to be earned. Top dog Sneijder is in the same boat as the rest. Through his benching, commotion ensued. Sneijder was angry and demonstrated that. Tomorrow, the ex-Ajax player will want to take revenge.

Van Persie is injured and it comes across as perfect timing too. Sneijder can now demonstrate his value. The battle for a starting position has started and won’t finish till the summer of 2010.

“Wesley handled it very well,” Van Marwijk says. “Disapointment and anger are allowed. Or better: needed! We need some dynamics in the group. I welcome it. But, there is a line that can’t be crossed and Sneijder didn’t even get close to that line. Again, I’ll know when a player sabotages when he’s benched and that player can book a nice holiday in the 2010 summer. And they know it.”

If Oranje winst against Macedonia, the ticked to South Africa is virtually in the pocket. In a record time. Never before did Oranje handle it’s qualification as smoothly as under Van Marwijk. Some people tend to look down upon our competition in the series, but Van Marwijk couldn’t be bothered.

“The FIFA uses the ranking to determine the group combinations, to make it as fair as possible. And look at the results. Look at France and Scotland for the EC2008. Look at Portugal now. It’s not easy to beat nations like Norway, Scotland or Madedonia. Not even for typical top nations.”

Van Marwijk wants to officially qualify in and against Iceland, on June 6. This would mean that all that’s left is one year of friendlies.

“That’s fine. We’ll just make sure we will invite top nations to practice against.”

Macedonia will build it’s traditional wall of players in the ArenA, Van Marwijk assumes. “Since decades, opponents adapt to Oranje. They always do. We won’t be surprised easily by their tactics. But, Macedonia is not easy. They have physical strength, length and they’re shrewd. Both tactically and technically. They will play differently that Scotland, that showed a lot of respect for us. I can’t see Macedonia do that. And they’ll commit more bodies up front and go for the counter attack. We need to be careful…”