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Michel Vorm: Holland’s World Cup is not all about revenge against Spain Michel Vorm: Holland’s World Cup is not all about revenge against Spain
(2 months later)
Michel Vorm has been enjoying the view of Ipanema beach from his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro and thinking how privileged he is to be part of a World Cup in Brazil. “This is probably one of the biggest countries football-wise,” the Holland goalkeeper says. “I never forget when I was young, we lost in 1994 in the United States against Brazil with Bebeto and Romario. Twenty years later, being in the World Cup yourself, in Brazil, it’s amazing.”Michel Vorm has been enjoying the view of Ipanema beach from his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro and thinking how privileged he is to be part of a World Cup in Brazil. “This is probably one of the biggest countries football-wise,” the Holland goalkeeper says. “I never forget when I was young, we lost in 1994 in the United States against Brazil with Bebeto and Romario. Twenty years later, being in the World Cup yourself, in Brazil, it’s amazing.”
It has been a fairytale World Cup journey for Vorm, starting at his home in Utrecht in 1994 at the age of 10, when he remembers getting up at 6am to watch the matches that his mum had recorded the night before, through to being on the substitutes’ bench in the final against Spain in South Africa four years ago.It has been a fairytale World Cup journey for Vorm, starting at his home in Utrecht in 1994 at the age of 10, when he remembers getting up at 6am to watch the matches that his mum had recorded the night before, through to being on the substitutes’ bench in the final against Spain in South Africa four years ago.
So much seems to have happened in Vorm’s life since that raucous evening at Soccer City in Johannesburg– he has swapped the Netherlands for Wales, seen his reputation blossom during three highly successful years in the Premier League with Swansea City, got married and had a second son – yet the images and emotions from that fractious encounter with Spain remain vivid.So much seems to have happened in Vorm’s life since that raucous evening at Soccer City in Johannesburg– he has swapped the Netherlands for Wales, seen his reputation blossom during three highly successful years in the Premier League with Swansea City, got married and had a second son – yet the images and emotions from that fractious encounter with Spain remain vivid.
“I never forget we came to the ground in Johannesburg, we went outside to have a look but we couldn’t enter the pitch because Shakira was performing. I was thinking: ‘30 minutes from now we have to do a warm-up.’ And then I remember going out for the warm-up and everything looked orange.“I never forget we came to the ground in Johannesburg, we went outside to have a look but we couldn’t enter the pitch because Shakira was performing. I was thinking: ‘30 minutes from now we have to do a warm-up.’ And then I remember going out for the warm-up and everything looked orange.
“I also remember it was very cold that evening, because it was winter in South Africa. It was a tough game, physical, very hard. Howard Webb was the referee and I think he did quite well. It was not easy for him. The crazy thing is, I can remember me standing for almost 120 minutes shouting – the whole bench was like that because it was so intense. The same with Spain. We went up, they went up.“I also remember it was very cold that evening, because it was winter in South Africa. It was a tough game, physical, very hard. Howard Webb was the referee and I think he did quite well. It was not easy for him. The crazy thing is, I can remember me standing for almost 120 minutes shouting – the whole bench was like that because it was so intense. The same with Spain. We went up, they went up.
“When Arjen Robben missed the big chance … oh, man, that was horrible. I can’t watch it again. Sometimes you see clips of the final, but it’s not going to change. We were so close but also so far away. We’ve been there in the 70s, with Johan Cruyff and [Johan] Neeskens, when we were also that close.”“When Arjen Robben missed the big chance … oh, man, that was horrible. I can’t watch it again. Sometimes you see clips of the final, but it’s not going to change. We were so close but also so far away. We’ve been there in the 70s, with Johan Cruyff and [Johan] Neeskens, when we were also that close.”
Holland’s latest attempt to be crowned world champions was, by Vorm’s own admission, not much of a spectacle. Webb brandished 14 yellow cards and one red, which was a record for a World Cup final. It was an ugly stop-start game, riddled with fouls and ultimately decided by Andrés Iniesta’s goal four minutes before the end of extra-time.Holland’s latest attempt to be crowned world champions was, by Vorm’s own admission, not much of a spectacle. Webb brandished 14 yellow cards and one red, which was a record for a World Cup final. It was an ugly stop-start game, riddled with fouls and ultimately decided by Andrés Iniesta’s goal four minutes before the end of extra-time.
For Vorm, however, there is little prospect of tonight’s reunion with Spain, in the opening match in Group B, turning into a repeat of 2010, not least because so much has changed. “If you compare it to the game in Brazil, it’s totally different. I think their squad is a bit similar with some new guys. We are … let’s say that most players from four years ago are already gone,” says Vorm, who is one of only seven survivors from South Africa.For Vorm, however, there is little prospect of tonight’s reunion with Spain, in the opening match in Group B, turning into a repeat of 2010, not least because so much has changed. “If you compare it to the game in Brazil, it’s totally different. I think their squad is a bit similar with some new guys. We are … let’s say that most players from four years ago are already gone,” says Vorm, who is one of only seven survivors from South Africa.
“Also, when we played four years ago it was the last game of the tournament. Spain are so strong, so you needed to find a way to beat them. You do anything to win a final, especially a World Cup final. A draw is not enough, there has to be a winner. If you think about this game, the final from four years ago is a little bit in the back of your mind but you also know there are more matches to come.”“Also, when we played four years ago it was the last game of the tournament. Spain are so strong, so you needed to find a way to beat them. You do anything to win a final, especially a World Cup final. A draw is not enough, there has to be a winner. If you think about this game, the final from four years ago is a little bit in the back of your mind but you also know there are more matches to come.”
There will not, Vorm says, be any scores to settle in Brazil because of what happened in South Africa. “Revenge is too strong a word for this game. If you win the first game and you talk about revenge and then you lose the next two matches, you’re out. It’s not about revenge against Spain, it’s about making a statement in the first game.”There will not, Vorm says, be any scores to settle in Brazil because of what happened in South Africa. “Revenge is too strong a word for this game. If you win the first game and you talk about revenge and then you lose the next two matches, you’re out. It’s not about revenge against Spain, it’s about making a statement in the first game.”
With so many new faces in the Holland squad, Vorm senses that expectations at home are not as high as in the past. He is, however, quick to point out that Holland are still blessed with some stellar names. “Arjen Robben had an amazing season with Bayern Munich, [Robin] Van Persie has done very well for the national team, Wesley Sneijder is playing his 100th game against Spain, Nigel de Jong is very important as well. That is so much experience and so much quality.”With so many new faces in the Holland squad, Vorm senses that expectations at home are not as high as in the past. He is, however, quick to point out that Holland are still blessed with some stellar names. “Arjen Robben had an amazing season with Bayern Munich, [Robin] Van Persie has done very well for the national team, Wesley Sneijder is playing his 100th game against Spain, Nigel de Jong is very important as well. That is so much experience and so much quality.”
In Louis van Gaal, Holland also have one of the most experienced managers in world football. Vorm speaks warmly of the man who has the job of turning things around at Manchester United once the World Cup is over. “First and foremost, he is honest,” Vorm says. “If you are Robin van Persie, or one of the youngest with only one or two games behind you, he treats everyone the same. He gets a lot of respect in the group for the way that he treats the players.In Louis van Gaal, Holland also have one of the most experienced managers in world football. Vorm speaks warmly of the man who has the job of turning things around at Manchester United once the World Cup is over. “First and foremost, he is honest,” Vorm says. “If you are Robin van Persie, or one of the youngest with only one or two games behind you, he treats everyone the same. He gets a lot of respect in the group for the way that he treats the players.
“With his emotions sometimes, he is very loud, and he will definitely say something if he thinks you can do better. But he has got so much energy inside him, he’s very enthusiastic in everything he does, and you can tell he knows so much about the game with all his experience. He’s so passionate – that’s something he doesn’t hide.”“With his emotions sometimes, he is very loud, and he will definitely say something if he thinks you can do better. But he has got so much energy inside him, he’s very enthusiastic in everything he does, and you can tell he knows so much about the game with all his experience. He’s so passionate – that’s something he doesn’t hide.”
For Vorm, who will start as Holland’s No2 in this World Cup, there is one extra motivation to get a victory in the opening match, although it has nothing to do with the last World Cup final. “I became father of a son, Jaivy, exactly four years to the day when we play Spain, so that it quite special,” he says, smiling. “I hope I can give him a win as a present, that would be lovely.”For Vorm, who will start as Holland’s No2 in this World Cup, there is one extra motivation to get a victory in the opening match, although it has nothing to do with the last World Cup final. “I became father of a son, Jaivy, exactly four years to the day when we play Spain, so that it quite special,” he says, smiling. “I hope I can give him a win as a present, that would be lovely.”
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