Rafael van der Vaart analyzed the Netherlands’ chances at the World Cup on NOS, and also took the opportunity to assess Kylian Mbappé’s situation at Real Madrid.
“He’s received a lot of criticism at Real Madrid; he’s vilified there despite being the top scorer and, by far, the best player. It’s a real scandal how they treat him. Just for that, I hope he proves it at the World Cup,” he said.
The former Real Madrid player also made a bold prediction for the Netherlands: “Semifinals. We have a good team; if everyone is fit, we can beat many sides,” he warned.
Other Dutch internationals such as Vim Kieft and Pierre van Hooijdonk also shared their views on the national team. “Everything starts with the group stage. What will our style of play be like? Will we convince? Will Koeman settle on a fixed lineup? Reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals isn’t unrealistic,” Kieft said.
Pierre van Hooijdonk, meanwhile, highlighted the difficulty of the knockout rounds if they advance: “They say we’re on the easier side of the bracket, but the Netherlands’ group is one of the toughest in the tournament. If you get through, you’ll probably have to face Brazil or Morocco. Good luck! If that’s the path, then it’s incredibly difficult,” he stressed.
