Van Marwijk tells Dutch to keep eyes on the prize

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has warned his players they cannot afford the slightest lapse in concentration if they are to overcome Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Van Marwijk acknowledged his side might easily have been eliminated if Brazil had made more of their first-half dominance in a quarter-final in which the Dutch came from behind to beat one of the tournament favourites 2-1.

“We did not play well in the first-half against Brazil, that is true and normally that would be fatal,” van Marwijk said on the eve of the final.

“If we had lost that match it would have been in the first 15-20 minutes.

“But I knew that, at 1-0 down, we had an opportunity. So we know against Spain we must be very careful. If we don’t play well, in any period of the match, we can be penalised for that.”

Van Marwijk reiterated his well-rehearsed mantra about the importance of his players believing they are capable of beating the European champions and becoming the first Dutch side to lift a World Cup.

“I’m always been asked about the Dutch sides that lost the 1974 and 1978 finals, but we don’t think about the past,” he said.

“I don’t think these players need any more motivation than the fact that they are in a World Cup final.

“We achieved something unique by getting to this final but now we want to win and that is the only thing that counts.

“We are going to do anything and everything we can to win. As I have said from day one, we have full respect for our opponent but we are not afraid and we are convinced we can win this match.”

Van Marwijk said his side fully deserved to be in the final and hinted that he believes his side are capable of crossing swords with the Spanish on their own terms.

He said: “People say it is a surprise that neither Brazil or Germany is in the final, but the fact is that we beat Brazil and Spain beat Germany.

“We have both been very stable, Spain maybe have played more attractive football than us so far but I think the way the two teams play is quite similar.

“I have been coach for two years now, and I have often thought that I would love to play Spain, who I think have been the best footballing country of the last few years, and it is happening now.

“It is unbelievable. It is the most important match in my football life so far and that applies to all the players.

“It is an extraordinary situation. No Dutch player has ever been a world champion. But of course we have to try and approach it as just an ordinary match.”

Van Marwijk will be able to pick his line-up for Sunday’s match from a full squad after playmaker Wesley Sneijder dispelled concerns over his fitness by returning to training.

Sneijder had not trained since suffering cramps in his calf muscles after Tuesday’s semi-final win over Uruguay but has now recovered fully while goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg has shaken off a hip problem.

The Dutch are expected to make two changes to the side that faced Uruguay with first-choice right back Gregory Van der Wiel and defensive midfielder Nigel de Jong both available again after serving one-match suspensions.