Van Persie: Our physical approach was spot on

Striker Robin van Persie has insisted that the Netherlands' physical approach during their World Cup campaign was the right one, despite losing in the final to a slick passing Spain.

The Dutch international explained that Holland wouldn't have been able to progress as far as they did if they had just stuck to the playing the pretty football they are known for.

The 27-year-old also related his experiences with Arsenal, having not won a trophy with his club for five years, and often being criticised as being 'easy to bully off the park'.

The Gunners' passing game is often disrupted by overly-physical teams such as Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, who do their best to kick the players in red and white rather the ball.

van Persie said: "People criticised us for our playing style. It was not as pretty as it used to be with Holland.

"But my question is: Getting results and reaching the final or playing the beautiful game and getting knocked out in the first round — which would you choose?

"Just before France had to pack their bags, Patrick Vieira said to me that you don't have to play well in the group stages of a World Cup, not even in the second round.

"Only later do you have to grow as a team and you will reach a high level. That will get you to the final. That is exactly the way we did it. Against Brazil in the second half, we were brilliant.

"I know how difficult it can be to play wonderful football and not get the result you want.

"I see it at Arsenal more than I want to. When we play the likes of Bolton and Blackburn we dominate the game, we play attacking football and they score from a lousy throw-in or an odd corner-kick. Then we end up chasing them again.

"The criticism Holland got in the World Cup I recognise from what we get at Arsenal. It was a final. You don't give up without a fight, do you?"

But Robin, you didn't beat Spain, who didn't adopt the physical approach and instead stuck to their passing game, and it paid dividends for them.

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