It is a mild Monday dawn 55 miles north of Rotterdam along with a hundred supporters that are excitable pack their way into the Netherlands Zeist training campus for a glimpse of their personalities.
Lion and music mascot is charted by upbeatDutchy add to the texture but until the training session can start the gamers enthusiastically meet media duties .
Georginio Wijnaldum and european Champions Virgil van Dijk, from seeing Leicester City off to extend Liverpools guide at the top of the Premier League fresh, make their way to the Sky Sports News camera.
They are polite and accommodating, like security staff and the media, that leave it with them.
Nearby another lovers favorite Frenkie de Jong, after arriving on two hours sleep following his match for Barcelona the night ahead astonishingly lively, smiles as he answers questions for a local journalist.
Theres something in the air that indicates this group of gamers understand they are just about to finish the major finals hiatus with this football state that is proud as the 2014 World Cup.
Ronald Koemans side is filled with a number of the best players on earth, although the last hurdle is a more experienced international squad with 726 caps involving 23 players compared to 585 to the Dutch, Northern Ireland.
It is a far cry from the days of defeats to Bulgaria and Turkey. Really it is a universe Wesley Sneijder, at the summit of their problems, told the media he had gone from getting understanding they would win.
In third spot in Group C they are still not there but, as fans in the start day talk of their pride at the team in the aftermath of the magnificent win in Germany, Sky Sports News asked Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Koeman as well as knowledgeable Dutch writer Maarten Wijffels from Algemeen Dagblad what has prompted the turnaround…
Ronald Koeman:First of all, it is the quality of the players. We are always producing in Holland big talents that are good than people anticipate, and they take more hours. We knew it is a situation that was tricky because we did not qualify for the two major tournaments.
It is like golf! It goes up, it goes down, down [gestures up and down movement with hand]. Maybe it was the same for Holland but at the moment were enjoying the football.
Virgil van Dijk:We got a new supervisor [Koeman], we have got some players who made some huge transfers so its obviously excellent due to their advancement and I believe whats falling into place
Georginio Wijnaldum:The director shifted and we also changed accommodation to proceed from Amsterdam to Zeist. It was a brand new set, players around exactly the identical age and a great deal of friends
Maarten Wijffels:In 2017 in the lowest point players like De Jong and De Ligt werent old enough. Blind was the trainer once De Ligt produced his debut at 17 v Bulgaria. Blind, who had been sacked after this match, stated that De Ligt are an unbelievable talent although he had a bad game. Koeman came in to use the new generation of gamers.
Koeman:Yes, it was difficult of course. Weve got a little nation but we anticipate a whole lot of big things in soccer.
Wijffels:There was actual anxiety because 2014 was that the final tournament we qualified to get. There was. Van Gaal attempted but he refused. They spoke about hiring a foreign coach such as Arsene Wenger or even a coach that was German but eventually Koeman came in after leaving Everton.
They got rid of mature players such as Sneijder, Van Persie and Robben. Depay had lost his way at United but that he was only 21 or 22. People such as Wijnaldum and Van Dijk took on responsibility of mature players.
Wijnaldum:There has been a lot of harm. In Holland, they are not utilized to it (failure to be eligible ). It was odd. Everyone was disappointed and it was a challenging time but we learned a lot from the experience.
Wijffels:They needed someone to do it for four years and they made several changes to thisTotal Football version the team was known for. It had been old fashioned. Clubs like Ajax shifted. The teams played 4-3-3 but nowadays attackers play each position and therefore are more dynamic. The modern strikers have pace and therefore are more direct and fluid.
Koeman:It is not always ordinary you will be eligible for a big tournament. We are back. We are still accountable to reach the upcoming big tournament and its going be a demanding and difficult match Northern Ireland.
Wijnaldum:The major thing for each of us would be to get back to some tournament and the only thing we can do now is try to win the game tonight and then do this. We wish to be in a tournament .
Wijffels:Back then it was difficult to come across faces for a billboard or poster because the public was fed up together. Now with Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Depay, De Jong & De Ligt the people likes the national team .
Koeman:We all know we have a good strong group with top players in Europe performing in big clubs. Its a really good example for the players in Holland playing football. The results we achieve within the last few months are extremely optimistic. That makes the team more powerful and the gamers confident. The ambition is important for this squad at the moment because theyre showing amazing belief and fantastic spirit right now.
Team news: The Netherlands will not possess Jeroen Zoet (groin) and Davy Propper (hamstring) available.
Northern Ireland will be. Conor Washington was an absentee having a hamstring injury, combined with Rangers winger Jordan Jones.
After shifting his international allegiance former Scotland U21 winger Matty Kennedy will make his debut.
How to watch: Coverage starts on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm; kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Whats the state of play in Group C? Last time was ripped apart by Germany . Awaits on Thursday but defeat in that wouldnt be deadly, although it would be a bitter blow.
Although Belarus must beat Estonia to stand any chance leaders Germany could find themselves leapfrogged by Netherlands by the conclusion of the international break, particularly if they are held themselves by Estonia on Sunday.
Coming up: October 10 – Belarus v Estonia, Netherlands v Northern Ireland; October 13 – Estonia v Germany, Belarus v Netherlands
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 4-0 (17/2 using Sky Bet)Charlie Nicholas forecast:I believe Northern Ireland are punching above their weight for a while. Steven Davis has held it together. It is a team that is but one that does not have a lot of flare. The youngsters are coming for the Netherlands, while Georginio Wijnaldum Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel have now shrunk. We know all about Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Ligt at the heart of the defence. It will be a night for the hosts. Northern Ireland do not generally lose many targets but I believe theyll be put into the sword
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