Van Marwijk: "Holland are good, although not yet attractive"

Friday, 2 July 2010

Bert van Marwijk has always been critical of himself. Like no one else the Dutch bondscoach realizes that Holland have not yet shown their very best at this tournament. There's a lot of room for improvement. "We should score a bit more," he says.

But Van Marwijk doesn't think today's game against Brazil will be decisive for a successful World Cup. "I don't want to talk about that. I know we have come here to win. We have done so four games in a row. I know it wasn't that sparkling. But we did deserve to win these four games. Perhaps it looks a bit less attractive, but we might have created more chances than Spain did."

"I think we're playing well, but not yet attractive. In the recent past it often was attractive, but then we'd become complacent and went home early. We want to prevent that this time."

Van Marwijk: "I have tried to make the team defend better. By doing that the team became more stable. But in possession our approach has been the same. We want to play well and with style."

After four consecutive wins at the World Cup in South Africa Holland's manager is still criticized. Where is the beautiful football, with great games like the ones against Italy and France, two years ago? "I understand the manager's philosophy," says Robin van Persie, Holland's center forward. "And I agree with it. What's the point when I score three goals and the opponents score four?"

The same discussion is heard about the Brazilian team. Lovers of the game want to see samba-football, the swinging game of the heroes of the old days. Van Persie: "But what good is that talk about beautiful football. I've come here to win. When you only think about the offense you don't win."

There are more resemblance's between the two teams who have met before in the quarterfinals. In 1994 Brazil beat Holland 3-2 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

Both teams play with a block of six defensive players and four creative forwards. All those up front are able to decide a game on their own.

"It's hard to find the right balance," says Van Persie. "How much risk will you take to take the lead? It's a thin line."

Wesley Sneijder: "We're here to become World Champions. I don't mind if we play a couple of bad games, as long as we win."