Dutch in different class to Slovaks

ROUND OF 16: NETHERLANDS V SLOVAKIA:The Dutch were unbeaten in Group E and should have too much quality for Slovakia

IT WOULD take another major upset by the central Europeans, but Giovanni Van Bronckhorst goes into this afternoon’s game against Slovakia in Durban knowing it could be his last as a professional footballer with the 35-year-old having resolved to hang up his boots when the Netherlands go out of this World Cup.

“My ultimate dream is to say goodbye with the trophy in my hands,” he says with a smile. “But we know what’s it’s like to go out of a tournament after one bad match, in fact it’s a familiar feeling, and we do not want to experience it again. I hope it will be different here.”

Having made 102 appearance for his country, Van Bronckhorst knows the feeling better than most. The second oldest member of the Dutch squad behind Andre Ooijer, this is his seventh major championship and almost every time, his side have been amongst the pre-tournament favourites only to trip up along the way.

Two years ago, they were undone by Russia after very strong performances in the pool stages against France and Italy had marked them out as potential champions. Their group displays this time around have been less spectacular but they are one of only two sides to have taken all nine points from their three games with their defence, generally perceived to be the team’s weak point, holding up well so far.

They’re bound to be wary of the Slovaks in the wake of their dramatic defeat of the defending champions last week but will certainly fancy themselves as being capable of doing a better job looking after Robert Vittek than Fabio Cannavaro managed in Ellis Park. The pace possessed by their opponents out wide could pose problems for the Dutch, though, not least for their ageing captain who is not quite as quick on his feet as when he first made the switch from midfield to left-back upon arriving at the Nou Camp from Arsenal six years ago.

Attacking down the left flank is less central to his game these days, though, and his ability to read the game, make key tackles and help pass his side quickly out from the back means he’s still a key a member of the side, having played in all of Holland’s games during the World Cup qualifiers over the last couple of years and now here at the tournament itself.

He is confident that there will be the opportunity too to make it 104 appearances before he bows out, acknowledging that today’s opponents have done well to earn their place in the last 16 but insisting that the Dutch can improve again on the performances against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon.

“Not too many people were expecting Slovakia to reach the second round, but they deserve it. We can play better than we have, though,” he says. “In a tournament like this it’s a great thing if you can get results when you’re not playing at your best. This way you can build and get stronger, leaving room to improve as the games come.”

Both sides will look very much as they did in their last group games although Gregory van der Wiel is likely to return for the Dutch in place of Khalid Boulahrouz while Kamil Kopunek will take over the defensive duties in central midfield from the suspended Zdeno Strba for the Slovaks.

Vladimir Weiss is likely to stick with much the same approach that paid such handsome dividends against the Italians after the team had looked likely to go out of the competition in the wake of a drawn match with New Zealand and the two-goal defeat by Paraguay.

His son, also Vladimir, is a major creative source for the side while Miroslav Stoch’s return has also added bite to their attacking moves from midfield.

Defensively, though, they have looked suspect in all of their games and despite some last ditch heroics by Martin Skrtel and the rest of the back four against the outgoing title holders on Thursday, the Italians essentially had plenty of chances to win the game. The sort of sloppiness that allowed New Zealand to equalise late on in their opening game would also be likely to be punished this time out by the likes of Robin van Persie, who looks to have the potential to keep improving as the tournament goes along.

Van Bronckhorst, and his coach, Bert van Marwijk, both reckon the whole side will get better when the occasion calls for it. Another performance like the ones that have got them this far should suffice today in Durban, though.