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Sneijder: We’re going to the EC to win!

May 27th, 2008 | By: Jan | 10 Comments »

Sneijder arrived in the Oranje camp

Oranje entered a new phase in their EC prep with the move to the Hoenderloo training camp and the arrival of Wesley Sneijder and Edwin van der Sar. All internationals are present now and Van Basten has decided to give Mario Melchiot the nod and sent Boulah back home. “I already said that a fit Melchiot would be prefered over Boulah. Mario passed the test and it’s good to have him on board. He was impressive in our qualification matches and deserves to be here.”

The arrival of Sar and Sneijder gave an extra boost to the squad. Both players won the title in their respective country and Sar even won the CL.

Oranje welcomed two players who know what winning is. The former Ajax players immediately staked their claims. Sneijder: “I have only one goal: winning the European title.”

“We have the quality to do it. We need to believe in ourselves for 100%.” Van der Sar added: “This group has grown a lot in the last two years. That is good for us and the opponents won’t treat us as an outsider. Italy and France won’t think: ah, great, we are in the same group as Holland.”

Sar’s euphoria after winning the CL title has left the building already. The Man United players had a bit of a party in Moscow, but refrained from a glorious trip through Manchester. Van der Sar had a beer on Thursday with some team mates but returned home around midnight. “Friday, I started to focus on the EC. That was when the materials man called to make the last arrangements for the stuff we need to bring along.”

Now everyone is on board, the real competition can start. In particular for the three spots behind Van Nistelrooy. Unless Sneijder gets a spot in the holding line. Gio van Bronckhorst can then go a line back to left back. In that way, Van Basten will create space in the offensive line up for another thoroughbred.

On the WC2006, Sneijder played just in front of the defense. But, the Utrecht born Sneijder didn’t like the position and isn’t interested in a discussion about it now. “I don’t have any problem with playing where ever the manager wants me to play. But, I feel I’m most valuable close to the strikers. That’s all I will say about it.”

Van Persie still trains separately and hasn’t seen the ball as yet. Again, doubts arose about his fitness for the Italy confrontation.

Tags: Euro 2008, Holland, Melchiot, Oranje, Sneijder, Van Basten

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Comments

By Jan | May 27th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Off topic: Luc Nilis’s son Arne – an attacking midfielder – has signed for PSV Eindhoven. The chap is 17 years old and even if he has half of dad’s genes, he will be an interesting player too watch.

Posted from Australia

By Bob | May 27th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

Jan, you may be right, in re-reading my comments about van Persie, I may have been unfair regarding interpretations of his comments as being self-serving. I agree that he has matured since he first appeared on the scene, and I affirm him for that quality. I believe he is currently the one Dutch player with the potential of being a true world super-star. I just hope he has the mental qualities to go with his obvious physical talents.

When we look at the Dutch team going into Euro, is there a team that, at least on paper, is better than they are? It seems to me that the front line and midfield competes well with any of the other teams. Can the combination of running a 4-2-3-1 and the current group of defenders add the extra dimension to go the distance? Can the Dutch beat two of the three teams in their group? Will they? I recently received the World Soccer magazine special edition regarding Euro, which gives data on all of the teams. As I read through the reports,it seems after all that the Dutch do, indeed, have a chance to do very well. Am I just dreaming, or could it happen?

Posted from United States

By Rob | May 27th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

@Bob: I’d say Robben has the potential to be the best player in the world if he stayed fit – he’s been incredible whenever he’s had a run of games for Chelsea or Madrid. Apparently Madrid are solving his lower back problems, so hopefully that will happen. Obviously, Van Persie’s a much cooler and more likeable chap, but I think Robben was more impressive at Chelsea than Van Persie has been at Arsenal so far. Both incredible talents though.

Would dearly love to see Sneijder lead Holland to the cup – and I think he can. He’s been my favourite player since he first appeared on the scene for Ajax. I really think there’s a chance this time, the players seem to finally be a group (thanks in part, I believe, to Van Basten’s intollerance of the egos in the squad).

Posted from Japan

By Rob | May 27th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Also @Bob – I think Oranje may have the best attacking players at the World Cup, but overall the Spain and Italy squads are better.

Posted from Japan

By Rob | May 27th, 2008 at 10:04 pm

*Euros

Posted from Japan

By uefaeuro2008king | May 27th, 2008 at 10:15 pm

MY PREVIEW

SWISS MAKE IN TO 2 ND AND EXIT

TURKEY EXIT FAST

PORTUGAL EXIT FAST

CZECH GOES TO 2 EXIT

AUSTRIA EXIT FAST

POLAND EXIT FAST

GERMANY MAKE IT 2 SEMIS

CROATIA WINS UEFA EURO 08

FRANCE MAKE TO SEMIS

ITALY MAKE TO 2 ROUND

HOLLAND EXIT

ROM EXIT

SPAIN EXIT

RUSSIA EXIT

GRECCE TO SEMIS

SWEDDEN SEMIS

By Jan | May 27th, 2008 at 10:22 pm

We’ll do these predictions a tad later in the week. I want to see Holland play Denmark and Wales first, see how Persie will do physically and then in the next week – before the EC starts – will do some crystal ball gazing, ok?

I’ll let you in in a little secret though:

My crystal ball says: France and Italy OUT after the group stages. Oranje and Rumania go through.

Mark my words!

Posted from Australia

By Jan | May 27th, 2008 at 10:24 pm

@Bob and Rob:

I do think Oranje has great offensive players but we lack in quality at the back. France, Spain, Italy have similar quality to us, I think. Germany is a tight team unit.

I feel Marco will need to do something rash, like Rinus Michels did in 1974 and I have an idea what that could be, but…most of you won’t like it .