Al-Ittihad's victory drought continues, misses chance to qualify for ACL elite    Al Ittihad CEO frustrated with 'not positive' SPL feedback, announces internal assessment    Franco-Saudi seminar sparks new initiatives in railway and smart mobility development    Lone wolf suspect charged in shooting of Slovak PM    Saudi Crown Prince meets UN chief and several Arab leaders in Bahrain    Cognite Data Fusion now available on Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia    Saudi taekwondo team makes history with first Asian championship golds    Worshippers locked in Nigeria mosque and set on fire    Net-zero producers forum wraps up second ministerial meeting in Riyadh    British Airways resumes flights to Jeddah after five-year break    Israeli tank fire kills own soldiers in north Gaza    Israeli minister attacks Netanyahu over Gaza future    "Green Family" campaign launched to enhance climate change awareness among families    Nazaha chief: Vision 2030 aims to be a successful model in combating corruption    13 illegal workers arrested for running firm selling expired seafood    4 major world boxing titles await their champion at 'Ring of Fire' in Riyadh Saturday    Indian spices face heat over global safety concerns    Glioblastoma: Top Australian doctor remains brain cancer-free after a year    Introducing Zilos: A luxury Culinary Oasis of Mediterranean and Asian Fusion in Jeddah    Saudi authorities recall contaminated mayonnaise after food poisoning incident at Riyadh restaurant    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Dutch critics ready for Slovakian heroes
By Nick Mulvenney
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 28 - 06 - 2010

Netherlands striker Dirk Kuyt believes any complacency towards their surprise World Cup second round opponents Slovakia will be kept in check by their fiercest critics – themselves.
Slovakia's stunning 3-2 upset of holder Italy Thursday would have been warning enough to the Dutch that their return to the Moses Mabhida Stadium Monday (1400 GMT) will not be as easy as the two teams' pedigrees would suggest.
Although Netherlands and Argentina were the only sides to win all three group matches, the Dutch have yet to dazzle anyone and are determined to keep their feet on the ground. “This squad is filled with self-criticism as it always can be better and has to be better,” Kuyt told reporters this week.
“We only do things step-by-step and when we have a lesser day, we turn to our organization and then we can also survive.” Flying winger Arjen Robben made an immediate impact on his return from injury with a substitute appearance in the last group match against Cameroon in which he set up the winner.
That gives coach Bert van Marwijk a full squad to choose from to face the Slovakians, although Robben is again likely to start on the bench.
Gregory van der Wiel should return at right back after being replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz for the Cameroon match to avoid the risk of a second booking.
At stake in sunny Durban is a quarterfinal against Brazil or Chile and Slovakia knows it will have to produce another huge performance to claim a place in the last eight.
“We haven't got anything to lose in this match. The Netherlands are the big favourites. We just want to do the same as we did against Italy,” defender Peter Pekarik told Reuters.
Coach Vladimir Weiss is not surprisingly likely to keep faith with the players that beat the world champion including Miroslav Stoch and Juraj Kucka, who transformed a team that had managed just one shot on target in the 2-0 defeat by Paraguay.
Weiss will have to make at least one change with Zdeno Strba suspended and Kamil Kopunek is likely to replace him in the defensive midfield role.
Having produced his country's finest footballing moment in their first major tournament as an independent nation with attacking endeavor, Weiss suggested he would again encourage his team to take the game to the Dutch.
“Now we are heroes. There is euphoria in Slovakia, it's unbelievable. We are so happy,” he told reporters. “Maybe we will play more offensively against Holland.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.