Soccer-Koeman reluctant to predict Dutch fate but feels confident

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman is reluctant ​to make any bold prediction ​about his side's chances ‌at the ​World Cup, but on Tuesday expressed confidence as they prepared for a warm-up international against ‌Algeria. The Dutch were semi-finalists at the last European Championship and Koeman said he had a "better feeling" about this month's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the ‌U.S. than the Euros in Germany two years ago.

"But what does 'better' ‌mean? At the last tournament, we were missing players because of injuries," he told a press conference ahead of Wednesday's clash in Rotterdam. "It looks like we'll have everyone ⁠fully ​fit this time, ⁠so that's a difference. But whether we're actually better is something we'll have to ⁠prove."

Koeman said making predictions was a perilous task. "You can never get it right. If ​you say we're going to become world champions, people ask what ⁠that's based on," he said.

"If you say you're outsiders, then people say you don't ⁠have ​confidence. I have a great deal of confidence in this squad, but there are other countries with a lot of quality as ⁠well. "You have to acknowledge that and be realistic about it. That doesn't ⁠mean I don't ⁠believe we can go far. I absolutely do."

The Netherlands take on Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in World Cup ‌Group F. (Writing ‌by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; ​Editing by xx)

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