 UEFA
Euro 2012 Poland & Ukraine - Friendlies
Huntelaar: "Upset is not the right the word"
1 June 2012
He scored in almost every single
game he played for Holland in the past two years, but
it has not shown to be enough for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
to be a regular in the starting lineup in Oranje. Against
Slovakia Bert van Marwijk again opted for Robin van
Persie up front, and it will take a landslide to change
that situation before the start of the tournament for
Holland on 9 June against Denmark. "To be honest,
I don't know what I have to do to be first choice for
Holland."
And so it looks like Huntelaar,
just like he had to during the World Cup, has to settle
for a place on the bench. It goes without saying that
that is a bitter pill to swallow for the Schalke 04
striker. "Upset is perhaps not the right word.
I'm just loaded with questions at the moment,"
Huntelaar tells DutchdailyTelegraaf. He is unhappy about
the situation and weighs every word. "The thing
is that Robin and I are, against our wills, becoming
the subjectof a national discussion, and every word
is blown out of proportions. For the public it's Van
Persie or Huntelaar, but I don't want to think that
way. It's why I don't want to talk about Robin. I only
look at myself and just want to play."
It was remarkable to see on Wednesday
that a lineup with Van Persie on the number 10 position
behind Huntelaar does not seem to be an option for Van
Marwijk. Because when Wesley Sneijder had to come off
with an injury against the Slovaks, it was Rafael van
der Vaart who came on for that spot, while Huntelaar
remained on the bench. "I could draw certain conclusions
from that, but I prefer to hear it from the bondscoach
himself," Huntelaar says.
But the striker admits that he
is getting quite desperate with the situation. Becausehow
much better could he have been this season at Schalke
and for the national team? "Besides that I train
hard and I'm being very positive towards the group.
When you still don't get a chance desperation of course
is lurking I sometimes surprise myself by still being
mentally strong and giving it 100%. Because honestly
speaking: I don't know what I have to do to be the center
forward of Oranje."
Euro
2012 campaign - Results, schedule, standings
Holland
at European Championships
All
time European Championships ranking
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