Qualified Dutch unlikely to rest players
Source: Agencies |
June 24, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ALREADY-QUALIFIED Netherlands will be at full strength against out-of-contention Cameroon in its final Group E match in a bid to avoid a hat-trick of early knockout exits after fielding weakened teams.
In the 2006 World Cup and at Euro 2008 the Dutch qualified after their first two group games. Both times then-coach Marco van Basten rested big names for the final match and in both tournaments they were beaten in the first knockout round.
This time, on six points after wins over Denmark and Japan, there is still top place to play for as a defeat by Cameroon coupled with a healthy win for either of the other sides who meet in Rustenburg could relegate them to second place.
Coach Bert van Marwijk is not taking any chances. "I don't plan to make many changes," he said. "It will be a different story when players are not completely fit and we also have to see when Arjen Robben is ready to play. It could be that he plays Thursday."
Cameroon has nothing to play for but pride after defeats by Japan and Denmark meant it had got through to the knockout stage only once in six appearances at the World Cup.
"We cannot afford to participate in a big tournament like the World Cup and go back without a point," said goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou. "It will be the worst in our country's history. We cannot let this happen. We are going to give all our energy, we're going to give our best to show that Cameroon remains a great football nation. The Lions can still roar."
The statistics tell a harsh tale because Cameroon contributed greatly to an entertaining game against Denmark and could easily have had more goals.
In the 2006 World Cup and at Euro 2008 the Dutch qualified after their first two group games. Both times then-coach Marco van Basten rested big names for the final match and in both tournaments they were beaten in the first knockout round.
This time, on six points after wins over Denmark and Japan, there is still top place to play for as a defeat by Cameroon coupled with a healthy win for either of the other sides who meet in Rustenburg could relegate them to second place.
Coach Bert van Marwijk is not taking any chances. "I don't plan to make many changes," he said. "It will be a different story when players are not completely fit and we also have to see when Arjen Robben is ready to play. It could be that he plays Thursday."
Cameroon has nothing to play for but pride after defeats by Japan and Denmark meant it had got through to the knockout stage only once in six appearances at the World Cup.
"We cannot afford to participate in a big tournament like the World Cup and go back without a point," said goalkeeper Hamidou Souleymanou. "It will be the worst in our country's history. We cannot let this happen. We are going to give all our energy, we're going to give our best to show that Cameroon remains a great football nation. The Lions can still roar."
The statistics tell a harsh tale because Cameroon contributed greatly to an entertaining game against Denmark and could easily have had more goals.
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