Soccer City victory would just be picture perfect for Van Persie

Published on Wednesday 7 July 2010 20:52

ROBIN van Persie intends to replace the giant picture of Diego Maradona cradling the World Cup he has at home with one of himself doing exactly the same thing.

Maradona was Van Persie's hero as a boy, the legend he looked up to as he vowed to make a career in the game. Little could the 26-year-old have known, growing up in Rotterdam, that he would one day grace the game's finest stage as well. But that is what Van Persie will do on Sunday when the Netherlands go for World Cup glory. Then he will have the chance to replace that picture.

"I have a really big picture of Maradona on the wall at home in my games room," he said. "It is an unbelievable picture of him holding the World Cup. He is on his team-mates' shoulders and he is holding that trophy with passion. If we win I want that picture with me holding the World Cup, having hopefully scored in the final."

It is hard to imagine what Amsterdam would turn into should that dream become reality.

Reports of jubilant Dutchman leaping into the many canals in sheer joy at what the Oranje have achieved in South Africa fits perfectly with Amsterdam's party image. But even the more restrained members of society are expressing their happiness in spontaneous fashion.

"I spoke to two friends of mine in Rotterdam and they were trying to explain what it is like," said Van Persie. "Holland is just upside down. It is unbelievable. Everybody is drinking, having fun, swimming in the canals. It is crazy. Everyone is so happy. With the game we all love we can make people so happy. We just need to push on one more time."

The Dutch have been here before of course. Twice. The 'Total Football' team created by Rinus Michels is widely acknowledged to be one of the best ever. But they were beaten by hosts West Germany in 1974 and four years later, with Cruyff no longer involved, another host nation overcame them in Argentina. Yet that era remains the yardstick the current Dutch side must be judged by. For, while they were competing in their ninth major semi-final last night, they have collected just one trophy, Euro 88, when Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten were in their pomp.

"It is a bit difficult because you have to fight against the generation of 1974 and 1978," said Van Persie. "They were unbelievable. They are legends, Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and so on. You grew up with their names in your face. When those people say anything in the press or on a TV programme everybody listens because of what they have achieved. But somehow, we have a chance to do it.

If we win it for the first time it will be unbelievable because it means that we have done better than them."

Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst has admitted he could hardly have dreamed that his last competitive match would be the World Cup final.

The former Rangers, Arsenal and Barcelona defender will retire from professional football after the final in Johannesburg, after playing a massive part in getting the Dutch side there.

The 35-year-old not only smashed in what was arguably the best goal of his career to give the Netherlands the lead, but also headed a shot off the line to deny Uruguay. Van Bronckhorst said: "The last game in my career and it's a World Cup final - what can you say? It could not be more beautiful." z