Achievements are the only thing that matters, according to former footballer Van der Vaart
The Netherlands' Ambition at Euro 2012: Aiming for the Top
Rafael van der Vaart, a key player for Tottenham and the Dutch national football team, has expressed high expectations for the Netherlands' performance at Euro 2012. In an interview with UEFA.com, he voiced his hope that the team would play better football at Euro 2012 than they did during the World Cup in 2010.
Van der Vaart's comments suggest a belief that the Dutch team should strive to improve upon their performance from the 2010 World Cup, where they were a finalist. He believes that reaching the semi-finals is not enough and that the team should aim for the highest ambition: winning the tournament.
In contrast, the Dutch football association has set more modest goals for Euro 2012. Their official goal is to reach the semi-finals, a significant step from their performance at the 2012 tournament where they failed to advance from the group stage, scoring only 2 goals and conceding 5 in 3 games.
This difference in expectations reflects a divide between Van der Vaart's more ambitious stance and the official, more cautious objectives of the Dutch FA for Euro 2012.
The Dutch team's Group B match against Denmark on June 9 will be an important test for the team's improved performance at Euro 2012. The major trophy the Dutch team is aiming to win at Euro 2012 is their first, as it has been 34 years since they last won a major trophy in 1988.
Van der Vaart, who is a member of the Dutch national football team, aims higher than reaching the semi-finals and intends to help his team win their first major trophy since 1988. He believes that the current moment, being the ideal age, offers a prime opportunity for the Dutch team to achieve success at Euro 2012.
| Aspect | Rafael van der Vaart's Expectations | Dutch Football Association's Stated Goal | |-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Main ambition | Win the tournament | Reach the semi-finals | | Outcome at Euro 2012 | Disappointing; failed to advance from the group stage | Official goal not achieved | | Key match | Netherlands vs. Denmark on June 9 | | | Last major trophy won | 1988 | | | Van der Vaart's role | Key player and high expectations setter | Member of the Dutch national football team |
Despite the Dutch Football Association setting a goal to reach the semi-finals at Euro 2012, key player Rafael van der Vaart aims higher, intending to win the tournament and help the Dutch team secure their first major trophy since 1988. Notably, van der Vaart wants the team to play better football than they did during the 2010 World Cup, aspiring to surpass European-leagues' premier-league level performances in the tournament.
