Maradona: Robben has missed more chances for Netherlands than he did in the Champions League final

Jun 17, 2012 11:29:00 AM

The Argentine legend believes only Wesley Sneijder has impressed so far for Oranje, and urged Bert van Marwijk to play Dirk Kuyt to help the team score against Portugal

Diego Maradona has questioned several of Netherlands' key players, including Arjen Robben, for failing to produce the goods for Oranje after two Group B matches at Euro 2012.

Bert van Marwijk's side head into the final group game against Portugal needing to win by a two-goal margin to remain in the hunt for a quarter-final berth, and the former Argentina coach pointed at the Dutch forward line as their main problem following a 1-0 loss to Denmark and the 2-1 reverse against Germany.

"It's desperation time in Group B," Maradona wrote in the Times of India.

"Coach Van Marwijk has seen a dearth of goals by his side. [Robin] van Persie finally came alive in the last game with a brilliant strike, too little and too late versus Germany. Robben has missed more goals than he did in the Champions League final, and only midfield genius [Wesley] Sneijder has shown any quality.

"Nobody would have predicted that World Cup finalists Netherlands would have zero points after their first two games."

Maradona added that Netherlands must now make some changes to their attack, and urged Van Marwijk to start new Fenerbahce signing Dirk Kuyt, who will turn 32 next week, instead of Ibrahim Afellay.

"For their sake I hope that Netherlands start Kuyt instead of Afellay to set up strikers Van Persie and Robben."

Netherlands kick off Sunday's clash against Portugal at 20:45CET.

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