Upbeat Dutch coach Van Marwijk close to confirming final squad

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk believes his team are more than ready to meet the challenges of Euro 2012 as they begin the countdown to the tournament with a friendly against Bulgaria today.

The Dutch will travel to Poland and Ukraine shouldering high expectations, having finished runners-up to Spain at the World Cup two years ago.

They have been drawn in the most difficult group, however, with Germany, Portugal and Denmark awaiting them in the opening rounds. But Van Marwijk is confident his players will give their all at the championships.

“We will do everything, although I won’t explain how we will do it,” he said. “This is a different tournament (to the World Cup). Not all of the lads have, for various reasons, played regularly for their clubs this season. But that perhaps makes them even more eager to shine at the European Championships.”

Van Marwijk will name his final 23-man squad for the tournament ahead of the Bulgaria match, although he already has an idea which four players he will drop from his provisional line-up.

“We’ve been working well in training,” Van Marwijk said. “We have watched the players extensively during the season and again this past week. The choice I make will be carefully considered. I’m almost certain as to which players will be cut from the squad.”

Much of the attention over the last few days has been on forward Arjen Robben, who was on the losing Bayern Munich side in the Champions League final against Chelsea last weekend. Robben, who missed a second-half penalty in that match, turned out as a substitute for the Dutch in a midweek friendly against his club side, but was booed by some of the Bayern fans. That treatment was condemned by Van Marwijk and his Netherland team-mates, while Bayern issued an apology to Robben.

Van Marwijk remains confident the 28-year-old will not be scarred by the last week’s events, and would be happy to consider him as a penalty-taker if required at Euro 2012.

“I will say whether someone takes a penalty,” said the Dutch coach. “And he will if he wants to, although I’m not making a list now. There’s no point.”

In other friendlies this weekend, Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld will face his native Germany as he prepares his squad for an assault on the World Cup qualifiers after they failed to qualify for Euro 2012.

“This is an emotional game, a highlight,” he said on facing Germany. “The Germans will be motivated because they want to impose for the European Championship. We will prepare meticulously in the next months in order to qualify for Brazil.”

Defending European champions Spain face a tricky friendly against Serbia, while today’s other matches see Denmark face Brazil and co-hosts Poland entertain Slovakia. Portugal are also in action against Macedonia while the Czech Republic play Israel and Euro 2004 winners Greece face Slovenia. France are the only Euro 2012 side in action tomorrow, when they face Iceland.