by Machiavel Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:14 pm
De Haan plots Dutch double
Expectations are high as the Netherlands prepare to defend their UEFA European Under-21 Championship crown and coach Foppe de Haan is confident his young side will meet them. Some of the faces may have changed from the Dutch team that triumphed in Portugal for the first time last summer, but the 63-year-old veteran believes his latest crop can rise to the challenge once again.
uefa.com: You've lost key players since winning the previous tournament in Portugal. Was it a challenge to rebuild?
De Haan: A big challenge, but again it's a really good team. At the front, we have Ryan Babel of Ajax and on the right Julian Jenner from AZ Alkmaar who's doing really well. Maybe the midfield is a bit weaker because in Portugal we had Ismaïl Aissati, Stijn Schaars and Demy de Zeeuw.
uefa.com: How is the dynamic in the squad?
De Haan: We've only been playing friendlies which is always a problem. We have to learn to have the same ideas and that takes time. We're playing at home which may be a little bit stressful but it is also a big challenge for us to do well. I have a good feeling about making the last four.
uefa.com: What did it mean to win in Portugal?
De Haan: It was a tremendous experience. No one thought we would win except me. Before the tournament I told the boys we could win it because we like to play good football. We started really badly but we got better and better and in the last two games played very well. When you see that happening it makes you very glad. It is why you are a coach.
uefa.com: What is your favourite memory of Portugal?
De Haan: Klaas Jan Huntelaar's goal against France in the semis. Before the game I said Huntelaar hadn't been playing well, but I hoped he would that day – and he did. No Dutch youth team had ever beaten France. That time we had to win and we did. We'll miss Huntelaar's goals. He can play a bad game but still score.
uefa.com: How highly do you rate Ismaïl Aissati?
De Haan: He will be big. He could have been an Under-19, but he has been in my team for two years. He has a good overview of the game and is very good at dribbling. He has spent the last six months at [FC] Twente, on loan from PSV [Eindhoven], so has been playing at the top level. He'll be one of the players of the tournament.
uefa.com: What is your priority? Winning the tournament or helping improve the players for the senior team?
De Haan: Always both. And we want to go to the Olympic Games. That's the great challenge. Holland have never done that.
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