It is a mild Monday morning 55 miles north of Rotterdam and a hundred fans pack their way to the Netherlands training campus to get a glimpse of their personalities.
Upbeat graph lion and music mascotDutchy add into the feel that is open-day but before the training session can begin the gamers fulfill media duties at the face of the pitch.
Georginio Wijnaldum and european Champions Virgil van Dijk, from seeing Leicester City off to extend Liverpools lead at the top of the Premier League new, make their way on to the Sky Sports News camera.
Theyre accommodating and polite, like the security and media staff, who leave them .
Nearby another fans favourite Frenkie de Jong, after arriving following his game for Barcelona the night ahead, surprisingly lively, smiles as he answers questions for a local journalist.
Theres something in the atmosphere that indicates this group of gamers understand they are about to finish the major finals hiatus with this football state that is joyful as the 2014 World Cup.
The final hurdle is Northern Ireland, a vastly experienced international group with 726 caps involving 23 players in comparison to 585 for the Dutch, however Ronald Koemans side is filled with a number of the greatest players on earth.
Its a far cry from the days of crushing beats to Bulgaria and Turkey. Truly its a universe away from the time Wesley Sneijder, at the peak of the problems, informed the press from becoming the team bus understanding theyd win 3-0 into a sense of dread he had gone.
In third place in Group C theyre still not there however, as fans at the open day talk of their pride at the group in the aftermath of their magnificent win in Germany, Sky Sports News asked Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Koeman and expert Dutch journalist Maarten Wijffels by Algemeen Dagblad what has prompted the turnaround…
Ronald Koeman:First of all, its the caliber of the gamers. We are constantly producing in Holland good talents that are large and they require more hours than people anticipate. We knew it is a situation that was challenging because we did not meet the requirements for the two large tournaments.
It is like golf! It moves up, it moves down, up, down [gestures up and down movement with hand]. Maybe it was the exact same for Holland but at the moment were enjoying the football.
Virgil van Dijk:We got a new supervisor [Koeman], we have got some players that made some huge transfers so that its obviously fantastic because of their development and I believe everything is falling into place
Georginio Wijnaldum:The director shifted and we also changed accommodation to move from Amsterdam to Zeist. It was a brand new set, players around precisely exactly the same age and a great deal of friends.
Maarten Wijffels:At 2017 at the bottom point players like De Jong and De Ligt were not old enough. Blind was the trainer once De Ligt created his debut at 17 v Bulgaria. He had a bad game but said that De Ligt are an amazing talent. Koeman came in to use the newest generation of players.
Koeman:Yeah, it was difficult of course. Weve got a small country but we expect a whole lot of big things in soccer.
Wijffels:There was actual terror because 2014 was that the last tournament we qualified for. There was not any strategy what coach to take. Van Gaal attempted however he refused. They talked about hiring a coach like even a trainer or Arsene Wenger but finally later leaving Everton Koeman came in.
They got rid of mature players such as Sneijder, Van Persie and Robben. Depay had lost his strategy at United but he was just 21 or 22. Individuals like Wijnaldum and Van Dijk took on obligation of mature players.
Wijnaldum:There was lots of harm. In Holland, they are not utilised to it (failure to qualify). It was strange. Everyone was disappointed and it was a tough time but we heard a lot from the experience.
Wijffels:They needed someone to perform it for four years and they made several adjustments to thisTotal Football version the group was known for. It had been old fashioned. Clubs like Ajax changed. The best teams no longer played with 4-3-3 but today attackers play each place and therefore are dynamic. The modern strikers have pace and are more direct and fluid.
Koeman:It is not always normal that you will qualify for a huge tournament. At the moment we are back. Were still in charge to make it to the upcoming major tournament and itll be a tough and difficult match Northern Ireland.
Wijnaldum:The most important thing for each of us would be to return to some tournament and the only thing we could do now is attempt to win the game tonight and then do this. We want to be at a tournament so much.
Wijffels:It was challenging to come across faces for a billboard or poster since the public was fed up with them. Now with Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Depay, De Jong & De Ligt the public likes the national team again.
Koeman:We know we have a great strong squad with leading players in Europe performing in large clubs. Its really a good example for those players in Holland playing football. The outcomes we achieve within the past couple of months are optimistic. This makes the team more powerful and the players confident. The vision is important to this squad right now as theyre showing incredible belief and good spirit at the moment.
Team information: The Netherlands doesnt possess Jeroen Zoet (groin) and Davy Propper (hamstring) accessible.
Northern Ireland will function as Norwich City defender Jamal Lewis, whos withdrawn with a knee injury. Conor Washington was already an absentee with a hamstring injury, along with Rangers winger Jordan Jones.
After shifting his allegiance to Northern 18, former Scotland U21 winger Matty Kennedy will make his debut.
The way to see: Coverage starts on Sky Sports Main Event from 7pm; kick-off reaches 7.45pm.
What is the state of play in Group C? Last time was ripped apart by Germany out but Michael ONeills side have their destiny in their own hands. A visit to the Netherlands, who have been back with a bang over the last 12 months, expects on Thursday night although it would be a bitter blow but defeat because would not be deadly.
Leaders Germany might wind up leapfrogged by Netherlands at the conclusion of the international break, especially if they are held by Estonia on Sunday, although Belarus must conquer Estonia to stand any outside chance.
Coming up: October 10 – Netherlands v Northern Ireland, Belarus v Estonia; October 13 – Estonia v Germany, Belarus v Netherlands
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 4-0 (17/2 with Sky Bet)Charlie Nicholas forecast:I believe Northern Ireland have been punching above their weight for a short time. Steven Davis has held it together. It is a team that is but. The kids are coming through for the Netherlands, while Georginio Wijnaldum Memphis Depay and Ryan Babel have shone. We know all about Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk in the Core of the Dutch Treaty. Itll be a night for the hosts. Northern Ireland dont normally lose many targets but I believe they will be put to the sword
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