Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
For some teams the loss of a striker of the calibre of Klaas Jan Huntelaar might have created a hole too great to fill. Not for the Netherlands where Ryan Babel steps into the breach confident of helping the Jong Oranje reclaim the UEFA European Under-21 Championship title. At just 20 the AFC Ajax striker is already a regular for the senior side and has played just once at this level, but that does not diminish his desire for success on home soil.
uefa.com: How do you expect to do in the finals?
Ryan Babel: We'll do our best which is all we can do. If we do that we will do well. It's good that a few of the lads have the experience of last year's tournament in Portugal. They can help the rest of the team handle certain situations.
uefa.com: Who should we look out for in the Dutch squad?
Babel: Midfielder Luigi Bruins and Ismaïl Aissati, who is already well known in the Netherlands but may not be so famous abroad yet. We have a lot of good players who could be a surprise during the tournament.
uefa.com: How well do you know your Group B opponents?
Babel: I don't know too much about them yet. I know a little bit about the strength of Belgium, who have some players who play in the Eredivisie. Portugal a little less, while I really don't know anything about Israel yet. They are the big unknown to me, although it speaks volumes that they knocked out France on their way to the tournament.
uefa.com: You played under Foppe de Haan on home soil in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup. What are his strengths as a coach?
Babel: He organises things very well, explains exactly where he wants you to play, and what he expects you to do in that position. He gets that over very well to the players.
uefa.com: Do you ever think about your debut for the Dutch senior team, when you scored against Romania in 2005?
Babel: I think of that with a lot of pride. It is very special to score on your debut. I take lot of pleasure fom that.
uefa.com: You aren't the oldest player in the Dutch team, but maybe the most experienced. Can you use that to help the less experienced players in the squad?
Babel: I can have a role in helping the less experienced players, but they have quality and are mentally strong already, otherwise they wouldn't be in the squad.
uefa.com: You're a versatile attacker. Do you prefer to play on the wing or in the centre?
Babel: In the centre you have more opportunity to shine than on the wing which is why I've always said, and still do, that that position suits me best and offers more scope for my game.
uefa.com: As a senior international how does it feel to be back in the Under-21s?
Babel: The feeling is a bit different. With the senior Oranje you are just one of 23 players, while in this squad I'm one of the players who draws extra attention. Other than that there is not much difference, the preparation and so on is the same. The focus for me is the same as last summer's World Cup.
uefa.com: How does it feel to hear that so many big European clubs are following your performances?
Babel: It's nice to hear but as there's nothing concrete I just focus on Ajax and don't think about it.
With Netherlands captain Ron Vlaar ruled out with a knee injury FC Celta de Vigo winger Daniël de Ridder is likely to be the only player to feature in successive UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals for the Jong Oranje. Speaking to uefa.com less than 24 hours after the Netherlands' gruelling semi-final victory against England, the 23-year-old revealed his was still feeling the affects of the 120-minute, 32-penalty long classic.
'Beautiful'
"I'm still pretty tired now, I didn't sleep that much," he confessed. "You think about the match a lot and though you're physically so tired it is hard to fall a sleep because that's when you really feel your legs. We only had a very small party [after the match]. We drank a glass of champagne back in the hotel, had dinner and then had a few more drinks at the hotel bar. That was it. You shouldn't celebrate too much too early. Of course it's beautiful we've got so far already, but we haven't reached our final goal yet and before we do that we can't really celebrate. The most important match is still to come."
Dialogue
De Ridder came on as a substitute in the Netherlands' opening game against Israel, but did not feature against Portugal. After blowing off steam with an open conversation with the Dutch training staff he forced his way back into the team against Belgium and impressed enough to keep his place against England, scoring once from two attempts in the shoot-out. "I requested a meeting with the technical staff after the Portugal match because I felt I had done well as a substitute against Israel and deserved a reward for that against Portugal.
'Discussion'
"We had an open discussion about it, with both sides giving their opinions around the table and they respected that. That way you can express your feelings, even get angry, without being hostile. When you're disappointed, you have to be able to be honest about it, otherwise, you walk around frustrated all day and that would create problems." Such openness is one of the things De Ridder likes most about coach Foppe de Haan. "Foppe is a very experienced coach and a truly honest man. I think he's the right man for a group of young players like us. Foppe is a coach who is clear about what he wants and expects from us and has a clear vision on how he wants us to play. That is working out pretty well again. Personally what I find most important is that Foppe is open for discussion. I can walk up to him, tell him I don't agree with something and he is willing to discuss it."
Mixed feelings
De Ridder might be riding the crest of an Oranje wave here in the Netherlands, but back in Spain not everything has been going his way. His club side Celta have just been relegated and it is only natural the winger has one eye on events back in his adopted homeland. "I've spoken a lot with the Celta players and coaches. It was a painful situation. We had done well and won out last two matches so it's a real pity it has to end like that. But we can only blame ourselves for not having done better earlier in the season. Last season we finished fifth or sixth and qualified for the UEFA Cup. We even got to the final 16 against Werder Bremen, so we certainly can play football. I'm convinced we have quality, but that also says something about the strength of the Spanish League. Now I'm here though and when you do something you have to commit yourself 100 per cent. You have to make the switch, although of course I still think about what is happening there."
Quality team
De Ridder is one of the most experienced players in the Dutch squad, and scored a vital late goal against Italy last year to send the Jong Orange through to the semi-finals at the Azzurrini's expense. Many have argued that what this Jong Oranje side might lack in ability compared to last year's champions, they make up for in team spirit. De Ridder, however, does not believe this side is any way inferior. "Everyone has said this team has less quality than last year, but I said we would see during the tournament. I don't think the quality difference is so huge. Some players have been replaced by other good players. They are different kinds of players, though, as it is hard to compare players with each other. One is better in one way, another better in another, but as a team we are very strong as you are seeing at the moment."
Beautiful
Now is the time to prove it. Serbia lie in wait and after beating another eastern side, Ukraine, 3-0 at this stage last year, De Ridder is desperate for the Jong Oranje to repeat the feat. "If we win the final it would be extremely beautiful to me as it would be the second time in a row I would do so. I don't think many players have experienced that, so it would be something unbelievably beautiful."
Back To Home Page
