There's a good chance that Robin van Persie will try the role of center forward for Holland in a friendly match against Italy (Saturday) and Paraguay (Wednesday).

Van Persie said he can not wait until he gets to play in the same position at Oranje as he does at Arsenal, "because I feel that's where I'm at my best" he says.

"Perhaps in the end it's better for the team when I play on the right. I wouldn't have any problems with that. Becuase it's not about me, it's about the team. But it would be nice to get a shot at that center froward position. Only then will we know whether it's a success."

The 26-year-old was made a center forward by his coach at Arsenal, Arsène Wenger much to his own surprise.

"Adebayor had gone to Manchester City and the coach was allowed to sign a new striker. But he said he preferred to try it with me. At first I frowned but now I am quiet pleased with his decision," Van Persie says.

"I am not a striker like Fernando Torres or Didier Drogba. I sort of play off the center forward position a bit. My goals are not my main concern. First I want to let the team play better. Eventually I will score from that. I scored seven in the Premier League this season but I also gave seven assists. That says something about the way I go about it."

Italy and Holland head-to-head

All matches of the Dutch national team

"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football