Idols inspire Robin van Persie to fulfil Dutch dream
Wednesday, 7 July
2010
By Dominic Fifield
The obsessive in Robin
van Persie is on the verge of finding fulfilment. Back
home in Hampstead, the wall in the Arsenal striker's
games room is adorned with a print of Diego Maradona
in all his pomp. "It's an unbelievable picture
of him holding up the World Cup," said the Dutchman.
"He's on his team-mates' shoulders and you can
see the passion and the pride in his face. If we win
it, I want that same picture but with me up there."
That was always Van
Persie's dream, though it could now be realised. Victory
over Uruguay on Tuesday secured Holland's passage to
their first World Cup final in 32 years and a chance
to avenge the near misses they endured in the 1974 and
1978 showpieces. Van Persie is in reach of the ultimate
prize. The only other picture in his games room is of
Zinedine Zidane, France's inspiration in 1998 and, en
route to the final, four years ago. These are idols
to emulate.
The striker is still
pinching himself at the prospect of the opportunity
ahead. His own tournament has been stop-start, the legacy
of a season wrecked by injury at Arsenal still sapping
his strength in South Africa. While his team-mates embarked
on their giddy lap of honour at Green Point stadium,
the 26-year-old crumpled to the turf and tried to catch
his breath. If his fitness is still in doubt, his form
has been just as patchy yet his significance to this
side is clear. Bert van Marwijk considers him the focal
point of the attack. In Johannesburg on Sunday, he will
have one last chance to make a proper impression.
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