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GROUP B: On-fire Robben out to make, and take, second chance with the Dutch
Arjen Robben was the face of Dutch disappointment in the South Africa 2010 final, and now he is their main reason to hope they can win the first World Cup in their history in Brazil.
The Netherland's forward Arjen Robben leaves the team's hotel in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 26, 2014. The Netherlands face Mexico in the FIFA World Cup knockout stages on June 29. Photo by: EPA/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO
By Veronica Sardon, dpa
Arjen Robben experienced the most bitter side of the World Cup four years ago, and in Brazil 2014 he appears determined to make amends by leading the Netherlands to the title they have yet to win.
The 30-year-old winger, arguably the best player of the tournament so far, knows better than most just how fickle football can be, and he wants to take things one step at a time.
"A slightly worse day, a small mistake, a poor decision from the referee can suddenly mean that you are on your way home, without being able to do anything about it," Robben told Dutch football magazine Voetbal International.
"You have to try and neutralize the effects of chance as best you can, and remain extremely focused," he said.
As he gets closer to the end of a roller coaster, injury-plagued career, Bayern Munich star Robben is aware of the effects of chance and wasted opportunities have on football.
In the final of South Africa 2010, Iker Casillas's foot denied Robben a second-half goal that would have put the Dutch ahead, and Spain went on to win the trophy with a goal from Andres Iniesta in extra time.
In the Dutch team's first match in Brazil, where they were considered the underdogs, they dealt the defending champions a 5-1 thrashing. The image of Casillas on all fours, powerlessly watching as the super-fast Robben netted the ball, became a symbol of Spain's downfall.
That was Robben's second goal on the day. He scored another in their 3-2 win against Australia, where he was man of the match, and while he did not score in the Netherlands' 2-0 win over Chile, he was man of the match there too.
Robben has won, among other titles, the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga and the Champions League, but he is yet to lift the World Cup trophy. The Netherlands have played the final three times in their history, but they too are yet to win football's top tournament.
Robben is playing his third World Cup. After getting to the round of 16 in Germany 2006 and reaching the final four years ago, he wants to get things right, without distractions, and he is keen to manage expectations.
The Netherlands are set to play Mexico in the round of 16 Sunday in Fortaleza, and if they win they will be setting up an easy match on paper, a quarter-final against surprise packages Costa Rica or Greece.
"It's about Mexico, that's all," Robben stressed.
And yet he did admit that the Dutch side are confident.
"There is a feeling in the squad that (the World Cup) cannot end against Mexico," Robben said.
Team-mates are delighted to have him around, and they trust their star to lead them far.
"I love to play with Arjen, because he is unpredictable for the opponent, but most of the time not for me, not for our team," Dutch captain Robin van Persie said. "He's very all-round, you can go many ways with him."
"Arjen has done a great job so far, and at the moment I wouldn't change him for any other player in the tournament," said veteran Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt. "We're very, very happy with him."
