Rafael van der Vaart, 43, a true legend for the national team of the Netherlandsgave a surprising answer when asked who will triumph at this summer's World Championship. The former midfielder skipped his native country, opting instead for France.
The finalist in 2010, when the “Machine Orange” dramatically lost the final contested in the company of Spain, do not include batsmen among the main favorites to win the trophy. The Dutchman believes that Deschamps' France, the “queen” of eight years ago, starts with the first chance at WC 2026.
Rafael van der Vaart: “France is the strongest team”
Vice-captain in Holland's formidable campaign in South Africa, Van der Vaart does not believe Ronald Koeman's side can get past the semi-final barrier. In the view of the bookmakers, the Dutch start with the eighth chance at the final North American tournament.
The statement was made in an interview given to Gazeta Sporturilor in Bucharest, the former footballer participating in the retirement match of his partner Estavana Polman, handball player at CS Rapid.
[Cine crezi că va ridica trofeul?] “I think France! I think she is the strongest team.I think Holland will reach the semi-finals and otherwise I don't care,” said the former Real Madrid, Hamburg and Tottenham star in an interview in which he also talked about Chivu's successful performances at Inter and Mourinho's appointment at Real, among other things.
The Netherlands have been placed in Group F, where they will face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
He was called “the new Cruyff”
Rafael van der Vaart was one of the greats of his national team in the 2000s. He ticked 109 caps and 25 goals for the “Oranje” team, with which participated in three European tournaments (2008, 2004, 2012) and two editions of the World Championship (2006, 2010).
In his youth, Rafael van der Vaart used to be introduced in the Dutch press as “the new Cruyff” or “the next Johan Cruyff”all thanks to his extraordinary technique and his elegant style, typical of the Ajax school.
Van der Vaart was Europe's first Golden Boy in 2003, beating Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo that year.
Rafael van der Vaart was vice world champion in 2010 / PHOTO: Guliver/Getty Images
He also scored in Romania's goal
As a footballer of the national team, Rafa Van der Vaart played seven times with Romania. He started five of those games and scored twice. Against Romania, he ticked off five victories and only one defeat: that 0-1 in Constanța, with the controversial goal scored by Goian.
At Euro 2008, I was enjoying playing so much that I would have stayed on the pitch for six hours without getting tired. Back then, I thought we were very good, but we didn't reach the final. We made it two years later, at the World Cup, although we weren't playing as well, but nobody was beating us
– Rafael van der Vaart, former Dutch footballer, at the time of his retirement in 2018
