World Cup

Louis van Gaal: 'Don't write off Netherlands'

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 05 June 2014

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal warns against writing off his team's chances of winning the World Cup before the competition has started.

Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal has warned against writing off his team's chances of winning the World Cup before the competition has started.

Van Gaal's side have laboured to narrow victories over Ghana and Wales recently in preparation for the tournament, which starts next Thursday.

However, the Dutchman believes that too much is being made of his team's pre-competition performances and insists that the Oranje will not arrive in Brazil to simply make up the numbers.

"We're not going to South America to just be involved, we want to perform there and my feelings about it are good," he told reporters.

"The atmosphere is good, we have grown closer together during the training camp. Of course we are in a tough group, but I will not assume that have to go home after a few games.

"All the so-called top countries are struggling [in friendlies] so we are really not as bad as many experts think."

The Netherlands face reigning champions Spain on June 13, before clashing with Australia and Chile to conclude Group B.