Gerry Cox

IT HAS COME to something when the English have to start taking advice from the Dutch about building team spirit and a harmonious camp during major tournaments.
Yes Holland, the country that produced wonderful footballers who would show us a tantalising glimpse of their sublime skills before imploding in a mess of recriminations and egotistical spats.
Think back to the brilliant but outspoken Cruyff in the 70s, the walk-outs of the 80s and 90s, and more recently the moodiness of Van
Nistelrooy, Robben and even Robin Van Persie, who showed his displeasure very publicly after being substituted as the Dutch beat Slovakia on Monday to reach the quarter finals of the World Cup.
But that incident was quickly dealt with, and all in the Dutch camp seemed happy when I spoke with the players after the game. Van Persie was contrite, his coach Bert Van Marwijk forgave him and his team-mates had no problem with him - indeed they said it showed the hunger and passion to be part of a team that is winning.
It was Holland's eighth straight win, having followed their 100 per cent record in qualifying with four wins out of four so far in South Africa.  No wonder the spirit is good and confidence is high, but it is built on deeper foundations. As Johnny Heitinga, the Everton defender, says: "We're at the right age, the players have been together in the squad for a long time and a lot of players are with teams at the highest level with clubs in big football countries.
"Everyone is fit and the most important thing is we all have confidence in the team. We are very happy. We've played eight games this year and won them all. Here in South Africa we've had four games, won them all and only conceded two penalties.
"Everything is getting together and I hope we can go further and further and play the final."
More damningly, though, he sees a lack of this spirit among the egotistical superstars of the England squad. "It surprised me that
England went out so soon. When you see all the players in their squad you've got maybe the best team in the world," he added.
"But if you want to win a title the most important thing is you have to be a team, work for the team and fight for each other. It doesn't matter if someone makes a mistake, you have to cover his back and fight for each other. You have to put your ego away and play as team."

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt showed that by switching to left wing to accommodate the fit-again Arjen Robben. "I said to the guys I can play in any position up front. For me it doesn't really matter which position I play. Today it was the most important thing for the team Arjen started on the right so I played on the left, and I believe I can do the same things on either wing.
"The way Arjen played after coming back from injury was unbelievable, scoring a goal and creating chances. We're delighted he is back in the team and with the results - at his stage of the tournament there is only one thing that counts and that is winning, which we have done again.

"We won every game in qualifying and every game in the tournament so far, so it could not be better. We are very happy with the way things are going and we have to keep going. We know we can improve and we have to improve. That is the spirit of this team. We've got a very good team spirit."
Dutch skipper Gio Van Bronckhorst took up the theme: "Everybody has hunger in this squad and wants to play, not just the 11 on the team but the 11 on the bench. Robin was not happy to be taken out of the game but that is the sort of hunger we want to see.
"The spirit is great, everyone is getting along well and we all have one focus - winning the World Cup. We have belief.
"We started out with this team two years ago and from day one there was only one goal - to win the World Cup. We are still on course to do that and we have three games left to become world champions.
"Bert van Marwijk is very calm and makes the team gel together. He's a good coach for us. He started from day one by telling us to have the belief we can be world champions, and we are still on course to succeed."
Unlike Fabio Capello and England, Raymon Domenech and France, and many other big name casualties - the lesson is there to be learned.
But did we ever expect it would come from the Dutch?