Van Persie in history quest

Published on Wednesday 7 July 2010 15:08

ROBIN VAN PERSIE knows his Holland team-mates have the chance to become immortal on Sunday.

Victory over favourites Spain in the World Cup final at Soccer City would finally erase the bitter taste of finals defeat from 1974 and 1978.

Yet the Total Football created by coach Rinus Michels and put into practice by Johan Cruyff has become a millstone round Dutch necks.

Even now, as they approach their date with destiny, there are some who argue this is not a true Holland team because Bert van Marwijk's well-drilled outfit lack the same stardust.

But Van Persie knows all that will be forgotten on the streets of Amsterdam and Rotterdam on Sunday night if Holland can win.

"It is a bit difficult because you have to fight against the generation of 1974 and 1978," said the Arsenal forward.

"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.

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

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