Edgar Davids: Holland can make it to the final

Friday 04 June 2010

Former Holland star and one of our all-timme-favorites Edgar Davids is certain that Oranje can reach the final. He said so in an interview with Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad.

- Why do you think they can reach the final?

"In a way it's just a gut feeling. But it's also logical. In the past years these lads have gathered a lot of experience. They have been playing together for a while now. When you have 50 or 60 international games to your name you don't make the mistakes you made when you were young."

"You know the pace of the game and what challenges await you on the international stage. It's a different tension. These are circumstances you have to get used to. When you then see they are all in great shape then the final is possible."

- At the 1998 World Cup you played in a team of 11 top players. At the moment the defense is a weak point

"Yes, the defense is the weakest part of the team. But when you have a lot of possession you don't have to defend that much - just like Barcelona."

- Don't you think the opponents will just skip the strong midfield and play the long ball to immediately test the Dutch defense?

"When you pressure them straight away it's hard for your opponents to play a decent long ball. The best players usually don't play at the back. We did so at Ajax. And Barcelona did it very well against Arsenal recently. And it's not that the defense is a Swiss cheese. They're fine, although not of the world class level of the offense."