2010 could finally see a Dutch team break their duck and lift the World Cup. That is the view of the Netherlands Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

 

With a 100% record in the group stages, the Dutch face a Slovakian side in the second round on Monday hoping that they can ultimately go one better than 1974 and 1978. Van Persie scored his first World Cup 2010 goal against Cameroon and is looking forward to a longer run in South Africa.

“This is our best chance ever” he said, “Most of us are 25 or 26. I sense this is our moment, this is our time. This is the best team I have played in so far.”

Coach Bert van Marwijk has called on the squad to cut out the ‘sloppiness’ that crept in against Cameroon. Having seen Italy, France and England knocked out, he does not want the Dutch to go the same way.