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RVP braced for tough Euros - Arsenal striker ready for "really tough group" at Euro 2012
Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 by Sky Sport

RVP braced for tough Euros - Arsenal striker ready for
Robin van Persie: The striker scored six goals in Holland's last seven qualification games

Robin van Persie believes Holland will have to overcome a "really tough" challenge to win Euro 2012 this summer.

The Arsenal frontman will spearhead the Netherlands attack against Denmark, Portugal and Germany in the group stage.

They could also face Spain and Italy in the quarter and semi-finals as they go in search of their first European final for 24 years.

But the World Cup 2010 runners-up have been in blistering form in qualifying for the competition, having achieved a record 11-0 victory against San Marino.

They scored 29 goals in their final seven games of the qualification process with Van Persie scoring six.

The striker understands that his side will have to perform to the best of their ability to progress from the so-called 'Group of Death'.

Tricky

He said: "It will be quite tricky because we have a really tough group - the first game against Denmark, then Germany and Portugal.

"We have to look at it game by game, just give it our all and see what happens.

"You need a bit of luck during the tournament, hopefully we can get that.

"Even after the group stage, we will have a really tough task, because we could meet Italy in the second round, then Spain in the semi-finals if we both win our games.

"So if we win it, then for sure we will really deserve it."

The Dutch are seeking revenge after an extra-time defeat by Spain in the World Cup in South Africa.

They also faced Denmark in the group stage in 2010, as well as Japan and Cameroon, before beating Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay en route to the final.

But Van Persie believes that the European Championship may prove to be a more difficult prospect for Holland.

He added: "Sometimes I think the European Championship is a little bit harder than the World Cup, because you have only quality teams playing there.

"At the World Cup, there is always one team in the group which is a bit of a weaker side and you normally can win, but in the Euros, that is not the case."

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia