Dutch national team boss Louis van Gaal has claimed that his team is fit and ready to go for the World Cup 2014. This will be his final tournament in charge of the national team after the 62-year-old has announced his desire to join Manchester United after the end of this tournament. Van Gaal, who took over in 2012, has managed to transform the fortunes of the team once again following a disappointing Euro 2012. He’ll be hoping to at least reach the semifinals or the finals of this year’s tournament due to the strength in the squad.
After having failed to win the last four friendly matches, Netherlands will be heading into the group stages of the tournament waiting for a spectacular first match. It will be against world champions Spain and this match will also be a repeat of the 2010 World Cup final. Netherlands’ form is certainly concerning because they have faced the likes of Japan, Columbia, and Ecuador in the last few matches and they have come out with only three draws. France are the only major team they faced in this run and they managed a 1-0 defeat.
Despite this, van Gaal has claimed that his players are already looking forward to the first group match against Spain. The Dutch still have friendly matches against Ghana and Wales.
“We’ve created a top sporting environment because we know our players have to be in the best possible condition. The players showed that they are top sportsmen and gave everything. Every player endeavored to give of his best. I’ve seen the first signs of a good team spirit developing. I can see it in the way my players communicate with each other. Everyone feels we are coming closer together as a group,” said the manager ahead of the World Cup.