De Haan: "We're not a team"

Tuesday 12 August 2008

The day after the disgraceful display of the Dutch Olympic team against the USA at the Bejing Olympics there was no time to digest the shock result.

In the early morning hours the players packed their suitcases for a transfer to a rainy Shenyang, where Japan will be the last opponent of the group stages tomorrow (11h CET).

One can only hope the change of scenery will do De Haan's troubled team any good.

So far De Haan has not managed to turn his players into a team.

"We have a lot of individual talent, but it's not a team yet, no. We are lacking the ability to battle for the full 90 minutes. We need some more time. If the legs don't want to the head can not do it for them."

But no matter if the team is playing poorly, a 2-0 victory over Japan tomorrow will secure them a place in the round of the last eight.

And De Haan seems to know how to get the needed result.

"We have to adapt an offensive style from the kickoff. We have no choice as we have to achieve a margin of two goals. We still have some studying to do as the Japanese have fielded a lot of different lineups up until here. But what we know they do not like is to be pressurized from the start. So that is what we'll do: we'll grab them by the balls immediately."

In the next round the opponent will be either Argentina or Ivory Coast, with a slim chance of Australia passing the Africans and claiming the second spot in group A.