FIFA Updates

DURBAN, South Africa (AP)—Netherlands striker Robin van Persie is angry at
himself for missing chances at the World Cup but is convinced he will start
finding the net soon.

The Arsenal striker was a contender to be one of the tournament’s leading
scorers but has only managed one goal in four matches in South Africa.

“I am not scoring and that eats away at me—at every striker, I think,”
Van Persie said after he ended scoreless in the Netherlands’ 2-1 defeat of
Slovakia. “I’ve had a few small chances. I just want to score.”

Van Persie was clearly annoyed at being substituted in the 80th minute of
Monday’s victory, which set up a potentially classic quarterfinal with Brazil on
Friday in Port Elizabeth, believing chances were about to come his way.

“I wanted to finish the game. I thought they would take risks in the last
10 minutes and I wanted to exploit that,” Van Persie said. “I could see spaces
opening up and I wanted to use them, so I was a bit shocked when I had to go
off.”

He appeared to remonstrate with coach Bert van Marwijk on the sideline
before sitting on the bench.

Van Marwijk played down any dispute with his first-choice striker, who has
scored 19 goals in 48 internationals.

“I shook his hand and understood that he was disappointed, that’s not a bad
thing,” Van Marwijk said. “Everyone wants to play the whole game.”

Van Persie only returned to international football last month after a
six-month layoff because of a right ankle injury he suffered against Italy in
November. But his scoring touch appeared to have survived the break as he hit
four goals in three warmups before the World Cup to raise hopes of a prolific
tournament.

Instead he has misfired in South Africa, despite heading an attack that also
includes Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Dirk Kuyt.

“I’m doing my absolute best, I can’t do more than that,” Van Persie said.
“I desperately want to score and give assists but it didn’t work out for me
today.”

Robben defended Van Persie and his anger at the substitution.

“It’s difficult for Robin to get free,” Robben said. “You are tightly
marked at a World Cup, we shouldn’t make a big deal out of it.”

Van Persie said he has learned playing for Arsenal that more chances will
come his way—and that he will put one of them away.

“One thing I learned in England is that you can miss chances or have a bad
first touch, but as a striker there will always be another chance,” Van Persie
said. “I played against Everton once when I missed three chances, but in the
end I scored the 2-1.”

Antonio Valencia may have been acquired in the immediate aftermath of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid, but the Manchester United winger feels the former World Player Of The Year is a “superstar” while he is still learning.

The 24-year-old, bought for £16 million from Wigan Athletic, also iterated his desire to maintain his first-team role.

“Cristiano is a superstar and I’m Valencia , a footballer learning each day,” The Sun quotes the Ecuador international as saying.

“I don’t desire comparisons with him as we are different players. While I’m happy with my work in the team, I know every day I must fight for my place.

Read the rest of this entry »