RVP: Quitting Oranje was never an option

Robin van Persie insists he never thought about retiring from international football after Netherlands’ disappointing Euro 2012 campaign.

The Oranje were eliminated from the group stage after losses against Denmark, Germany and Portugal, and the Arsenal striker was heavily criticised for his profligacy at this year’s tournament.

Nevertheless, Van Persie says that he loves the game too much to walk away from the international scene following the events in Poland and Ukraine.

“I never even thought about quitting the national team. Trust me, it never even crossed my mind. I enjoy the game too much for that. I’m not angry either after the Euros. I’m not frustrated,” Van Persie was quoted as saying by De Telegraaf.

“I’m not talking about what happened in Poland and Ukraine. It’s only right to discuss those kinds of things internally.

“Did I not feel the urge to speak up during Euro 2012? Sometimes I did, but most of the times I did not.

“How we can become a united team again? By winning games. It’s our goal to qualify for the World Cup. We’ve been paired with some tough opponents, but it’s a nice challenge.”

Netherlands resume match action on Wednesday when they take on Belgium in an international friendly.