Dutch ´underdogs´ ready for Brazilian challenge

The Dutch will be the underdogs for the first time at these World Cup finals when they play five-time champions Brazil in the quarter-finals on Friday, Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said on Tuesday.

The 58-year-old slightly toned down his remarks of Monday when he had said that the Dutch were “almost unbeatable” to declaring on Tuesday that they posed an “enormous challenge”.

However, van Marwijk said that his side’s target was to be crowned champions of the world for the first time in their history after losing in two finals and they would have to beat sides of the quality of Brazil if they were to achieve that goal.

“Brazil presents us with an enormous challenge, but we remain dedicated to our goal of winning the World Cup,” said the coach.

Van Marwijk, who took over at the helm when Marco van Basten stepped down after Euro 2008, said that Brazil just did not believe they could be beaten.

“Brazil are a very mature and stable team. They convey a positive form of arrogance, that others cannot win,” he had said on Monday.

“We might be the underdogs against Brazil, for the first time in this World Cup,” added van Marwijk, who numbers two spells at Feyenoord and one at Borussia Dortmund among his coaching posts.

The Dutch, winners of all four of their matches, play Brazil – who have conceded just two goals in their four matches – in Port Elizabeth.