De Jong: Netherlands must win Euro 2012

Posted Sunday, May 20, 2012 by Goal.com

Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has declared that the Netherlands are determined to win the upcoming European Championship.

The 27-year-old was part of the Oranje side which lost 1-0 to Spain in the World Cup final two years ago but insisted that Bert van Marwijk's men have the talent to ensure victory this summer.

"We know the strength of the team. We must have a soul and a purpose. We need to win this title," the midfielder told Eredivisie Live.

Fresh from winning the Premier League title with City, De Jong stated that he is thinking only about the task at hand in Poland and Ukraine.

"I now feel better within the camp, but my focus is now on the Dutch national team," he added.

Meanwhile, AC Milan's Urby Emanuelson expressed his disappointment at not being picked to go to Euro 2012 despite Erik Pieters' injury, but expressed his desire to return to the Oranje side after the tournament.

"He [Van Marwijk] indicated I was not in the picture for the left-back position. I had, in his opinion, not played enough in the last two-and-a-half years," Emanuelson told NuSport.

"I came short of [Wesley] Sneijder, [Rafael] van der Vaart and [Ibrahim] Afellay [for the attacking midfielder position]. Now I know at least what the reason is, and where I should focus on.

"Of course I still regret that I did not have the chance. It was an enlightening conversation and softens the disappointment. I now empty my head and go on vacation."

The Netherlands begin their preparations with a series of friendlies, starting against Bulgaria next Saturday. Van Marwijk's men face Denmark in their Group B opener on June 9.