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Ryan Babel: Hoffenheim's poor results won't affect my chances of making Netherlands' Euro 2012 squad
The versatile attacker is brimming with confidence, and is hopeful of making the Dutch roster for this summer's European championship, despite his club's poor form
09-Feb-2012 7:13:00 PM
Bongarts
EXCLUSIVE
By Daniel Buse
Hoffenheim attacker Ryan Babel is not too worried that the Bundesliga side's disappointing results could affect his chances of making it into Netherlands' Euro 2012 squad.
Hoffe have won only one out of their last nine Bundesliga games and have consequently dropped to eighth in the table, but Babel does not think this poor run of form could cost him his place in the national team.
The 25-year-old attacker returned to Oranje late in 2011 after a lengthy absence, and the forward is confident that he will make the 23-man roster for this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
"I don't fear that Hoffenheim's poor results will cost me my place in the Dutch squad. That shouldn't be a problem as long as I deliver the goods, and I have plenty of confidence," Babel said to Goal.com.
"Things are not looking very good at the moment at the national side regarding the fitness of some players. A number of players are being plagued by injury.
"I don't think that the national team coach will experiment and test new players. There's not enough time for that."
The former Ajax and Liverpool star then went on to discuss his role at Hoffenheim, and stressed that the departure of first-team regulars like Vedad Ibisevic and Chinedu Obasi is not necessarily a bad thing.
Babel feels that the Sinsheim side still have plenty of options up front, and added that the squad changes give him a bit more freedom on the pitch.
"We still have plenty of options. The players we have can all play in more than one position. Ibisevic could only play as a centre forward, and that limited the freedom of the other attackers.
"I now had the freedom to move from the wing to the position of striker, while Roberto Firmino could drift wide."
Hoffenheim are currently preparing for the Bundesliga game at home against Augsburg on February 4.
By Daniel Buse
Hoffenheim attacker Ryan Babel is not too worried that the Bundesliga side's disappointing results could affect his chances of making it into Netherlands' Euro 2012 squad.
Hoffe have won only one out of their last nine Bundesliga games and have consequently dropped to eighth in the table, but Babel does not think this poor run of form could cost him his place in the national team.
The 25-year-old attacker returned to Oranje late in 2011 after a lengthy absence, and the forward is confident that he will make the 23-man roster for this summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
"I don't fear that Hoffenheim's poor results will cost me my place in the Dutch squad. That shouldn't be a problem as long as I deliver the goods, and I have plenty of confidence," Babel said to Goal.com.
"Things are not looking very good at the moment at the national side regarding the fitness of some players. A number of players are being plagued by injury.
"I don't think that the national team coach will experiment and test new players. There's not enough time for that."
The former Ajax and Liverpool star then went on to discuss his role at Hoffenheim, and stressed that the departure of first-team regulars like Vedad Ibisevic and Chinedu Obasi is not necessarily a bad thing.
Babel feels that the Sinsheim side still have plenty of options up front, and added that the squad changes give him a bit more freedom on the pitch.
"We still have plenty of options. The players we have can all play in more than one position. Ibisevic could only play as a centre forward, and that limited the freedom of the other attackers.
"I now had the freedom to move from the wing to the position of striker, while Roberto Firmino could drift wide."
Hoffenheim are currently preparing for the Bundesliga game at home against Augsburg on February 4.
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