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Netherlands' Hedwiges Maduro: Our Euro 2012 group is the toughest but we must stay positive
Dutch defender claims they have been handed the hardest draw in the tournament, but is upbeat due to the fact they can now avoid some of the best teams in the knock-out stage
2 Dec 2011 21:14:00
By John Stammers
Netherlands' Hedwiges Maduro believes that his team have been put into the most difficult Euro 2012 group but is staying positive because his country have a "solid side".
Bert van Marwijk's team have been drawn alongside Germany, Portugal and Denmark in Group B, which has been dubbed the competition's 'Group of Death'. However, the Valencia defender has stated that they will have to beat the best teams at some stage to win the cup anyway.
The 26-year-old was quoted on Uefa.com saying: "Holland's group is without doubt the toughest but we must be positive because we are a solid team. If you want to reach the final you have to beat the best and the advantage we have is that if we qualify we will avoid some of these teams in the next round."
The Netherlands have won the tournament once before, beating the USSR 2-0 in 1988 when it was held in West Germany.
The Dutch will be hoping to repeat the feat in Poland and Ukraine, going one better than 2010's World Cup in South Africa where they lost to Spain in the final.
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Bert van Marwijk's team have been drawn alongside Germany, Portugal and Denmark in Group B, which has been dubbed the competition's 'Group of Death'. However, the Valencia defender has stated that they will have to beat the best teams at some stage to win the cup anyway.
The 26-year-old was quoted on Uefa.com saying: "Holland's group is without doubt the toughest but we must be positive because we are a solid team. If you want to reach the final you have to beat the best and the advantage we have is that if we qualify we will avoid some of these teams in the next round."
The Netherlands have won the tournament once before, beating the USSR 2-0 in 1988 when it was held in West Germany.
The Dutch will be hoping to repeat the feat in Poland and Ukraine, going one better than 2010's World Cup in South Africa where they lost to Spain in the final.
Visit our Euro 2012 microsite for all you need to know ahead of Friday's draw and beyond - team profiles, stadium guides, even which hotels are best to stay in!
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
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| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
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21:50 BST -
And here are some quotes from today's goalscorer, Danny Welbeck: "It's still the same, me and Ashley [Young] playing together.
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
"We know each other's games and obviously we're training with each other day in and day out.
"So, it was really good to start up top with him."
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