Frank de Boer: "We didn't believe we could win
it in 1998"
Friday, 25 June 2010
Frank de Boer was an important
member of arguably the best squad Holland ever sent
to a World Cup; that of the 1998 World Cup in France.
We at Dutch-Football.com believe that team was better
than the 1974 side, and perhaps the best team of that
1998 World Cup.
Still they didn't win it, going
out on penalties against Brazil in the semifinals.
Now assistant to Bert van Marwijk
with the current Dutch team, De Boer says he knows why
Holland didn't win the tournament 12 years ago. "We
didn't really believe we could win it, even though we
could have. But I didn't feel it that way. I just wanted
to go a long way."
"Both us and the Brazilians
were in top shape. Then it's tiny details that decide
the outcome. Had we had 1 or 2% more faith we would
have won it."
And that is why De Boer is instrumental
in the progress of the current team: he wants to make
the team believe that winning the tournament is possible
if they really believe in it. "They have to remain
focussed on the World Cup, and shouldn't settle for
second spot. When this team are in top shape they can
beat any team."
According to De Boer Van Marwijk
of course plays a big part in that. It's not for nothing
that he has used the word 'mission' on a few occasions.“
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