HOLLAND WILL IMPROVE

Former Holland international Johan Cruyff has said that the national team should improve their performance significantly if they are to do well at the 2014 World Cup. Holland have become one of the first nations to qualify for the World Cup after securing a 2-0 win over Andorra in the qualifiers. Italy are the only other team from Europe to have made it to the World Cup at this stage itself. Despite this, Cruyff thinks that the team would struggle at the World Cup if they do not improve their performance, while he also sees the lack of experience is a major problem.

Holland made it to the finals of the 2010 World Cup, but since then they have been very disappointing. The appointment of Louis van Gaal, though, appears to have made the team a little better when it comes to getting results. Of course, they have qualified for the World Cup in stunning fashion, but the real test of the team will come at the World Cup when there are only top teams involved. Brazil will be one of the favourites to win the competition being the home team. The likes of Spain and Italy will also be mentioned as possible favourites.

Cruyff is regarded as one of the best Dutch players ever and he has won numerous FIFA Ballon da��Or awards.

“If this [level] continues we will be lucky to survive the group stage [at the World Cup]. There is a lack of experience. Take, for example, Brazil and think about at the Confederations Cup. Those Brazilians in Brazil will slaughter us unless we are able to stand up in a footballing way. There is one year left. In the past we have kept things at a high level, and the last time we were in the finals. Let’s hope that this generation can match that,” said Cruyff.