Oranje dreams: Edson Braafheid is hopeful of making Holland's World Cup squad.
Edson Braafheid says that his patience waiting for a chance at Bayern Munich snapped just in time for him to realise his World Cup dream. The Dutch defender, who moved to Celtic on loan from Germany on the last day of the winter transfer window, says he had to leave Louis Van Gaal’s side to have any hope of making it into the Oranje squad for South Africa.
The former FC Twente left-back, who only moved to the Allianz Arena at the start of the season, feared his chances of being in Bert van Marwijk’s pool were evaporating as he cooled his heels on the bench in Bavaria.
His move to Glasgow appears to have reignited his claims for a spot in the Holland squad and he was a call-up for the recent friendly with United States earlier this month, coming on for the final 25 minutes as a replacement for former Rangers player Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Now he’s in van Marwijk’s thoughts, Braafheid is keen to emulate his Dutch heroes from the past and make his mark on the biggest stage in world football.
“I think it’s a dream for any footballer,” Braafheid told the Celtic View. “Anyone that plays football, dreams of playing football at the biggest tournament in the world. I have also worked really hard and came to Celtic to play more.
“At Bayern, I had to wait for my chances and I didn’t have the patience to wait, but I think for any footballer, it is a dream that can come true and when it’s this close you need to go for it.
“You know it’s one thing to be proud of being in the national team and that you belong with the best players of your country, but it’s another thing to play in the World Cup, to play with the best players of your country against the best players of other countries.
“I remember, van Basten, Gullit and Riijkard and also the European Cup, which was also good. But I watched the World Cup every time and it’s a strange feeling you get when you are watching I, but I think it will be multiplied when you play during it and experience it for yourself. So now the possibility is there for me and I will do anything to be there.”
