BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) 鈥� is preparing for its historic debut against four-time champion Germany with a sense of excitement and pride.
On Sunday, the island nation of 150,000 people will become the smallest country ever to compete at the World Cup.
Coach has done his best to keep his players focused and relaxed as they navigate this unprecedented experience.
鈥淛ust be yourself, and don鈥檛 be nervous,鈥� defender Shurandy Sambo said Advocaat told them, just before the team left its Florida base camp for Houston. 鈥淥f course everybody is excited, but just be yourself, show yourself, because this is the biggest stage.鈥�
The 颁耻谤补莽补辞 players have worked hard to ensure they are prepared for their debut. Germany, making its 21st appearance in the World Cup, is a heavy favorite.
鈥淲e鈥檝e watched a lot of clips of Germany. How they play, what they can do,鈥� Sambo said.
Advocaat said there is more pressure on teams like Germany that are considered favorites and that his team has 鈥渆verything to win and nothing to lose.鈥�
He’s confident that 颁耻谤补莽补辞 is ready for the challenge of facing Germany, which he referred to as a towering contender.
鈥淲e are a minor, very small country compared to Germany and we鈥檙e going to make life very difficult for them,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be a very unpleasant team to play.鈥�
颁耻谤补莽补辞鈥檚 squad is representing a country that rarely has a chance to have moments as big as this on international sports stages.
Due to its strong Dutch ties, 颁耻谤补莽补辞 is not recognized in the Olympics as its own nation, and despite its impressive per-capita production of professional baseball athletes, 颁耻谤补莽补辞 players represent the Netherlands at the
鈥淲e are not here to just be here,鈥� midfielder Ar鈥檍any Martha said. 鈥淲e want to show ourselves and get good results.鈥�
Despite the country鈥檚 small population, 颁耻谤补莽补辞 will have plenty of supporters to cheer them on as they make history. Sambo said his own family will be attending, as will 21 families of other players.
鈥淚 (would describe us) as one big family,鈥� defender Livano Comenencia said. 鈥淚f you see us on the bus or outside the bus, in the hotel, we are always with music, always happy. Everybody is around each other.鈥�
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Gracie Fisher is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken contributed to this story.
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