FIFA World Cup 2010 Final: Robben says the missed chances hurt
Robben’s national team, Netherlands lost the final of the FIFA World Cup 2010 to favorites Spain on 11th of July. Robben, who was an integral part of the Dutch lineup for the final, missed two clear cut one-on-one chances to score for his country and give them a push towards victory in the final but the Dutch winger failed to convert these chances.
The only goal of the match was scored in the second period of extra time, when Iniesta latched onto a through ball played by the Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to hit the back of the net and lead Spain to their first ever World Cup final win. It would have been a different ending altogether if Robben had managed to even score on one of the clear two chances that fell his way. Both times he was denied by the impressive Spanish goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas.
Robben is renowned for his pace and dribbling skills on the ball and was expected by the Dutch fans to finish easy chances such as the ones that fell to him during the pen-ultimate match of the tournament. Robben came to the World Cup on the back of a very successful season with Bayern Munich, a season during which Bayern won the league and the DFB Cup as well.
They could have completed a treble of trophies but were denied that feat because of their UEFA Champions League final loss to Inter Milan. Robben returned with the rest of the Dutch squad to Netherlands on the 12th of July, a day after their World Cup final loss to Spain. The Dutch team was honored back home despite their loss in the final match of the tournament. The whole squad held meetings with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende and Queen Beatrix.
During their visit to meet the royal family, Robben said that he has been thinking a lot about the chances he missed during the game. Talking about the first clear chance that fell his way, Robben stated that it hurt him to miss such a chance.
Coach Van Marwijk, who led the team along with the team captain Van Bronckhorst to the final were knighted at the ceremony as well for their services to the team. Van Marwijk said that the Dutch were very close to winning the match itself. He said that they should have won it.
Holland’s Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende praised the team and said that this Dutch squad had unity amongst them unlike the previous Dutch teams. He also said that the team had qualities such as a strong mentality, confidence, team spirit, physical and mental toughness as well as resilience.
He said that these qualities had brought Dutch to great heights during the tournament and that the Dutch team’s performances are praise worthy. He also stated that Dutch team’s run to the final of the World Cup had a tremendous impact on the country, which as a result stood as one in unity, behind the Dutch national team.
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