Duo talk England hopes, Dutch aim

Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben have insisted England can spring a surprise at UEFA EURO 2012, despite helping the Netherlands cast further doubt on their chances of glory this summer. Robben put Stuart Pearce's side firmly in their place with a two-goal performance in last night's 3-2 victory at Wembley. The former Chelsea winger scored a brilliant solo effort and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted a quick-fire second, and although the Three Lions looked to have salvaged a draw, the Oranje simply went up another gear again as Robben snatched a late winner. The Netherlands looked capable of scoring even more in match they treated very much as a friendly for the most part, and Bert van Marwijk's men will be among the favourites in Poland and Ukraine. The same cannot be said for England after their latest defeat against one of the game's other superpowers, but Van Persie and Robben were both diplomatic in the extreme about their opponents. Arsenal star Van Persie, who was withdrawn at half-time to avoid him aggravating a groin niggle, said: "They were a bit younger but a very good team. They have a massive chance of playing well this summer. Both teams played well. England played well too. First half really well, and a crazy end to the game." Robben added of England's EURO 2012 hopes: "It will be tough but it will be tough for each country. We are also in a very difficult group with Portugal, Denmark and Germany. It's going to be maybe the toughest group, and also England's. But they have great potential, they have a great team." England did score twice in the final five minutes to equalise yesterday, but Van Persie admitted the Netherlands had an extra gear to go into. "Well, yeah, to be fair," he said. "When they scored in the 90th minute, I thought it would be a draw. And then we had one last attack, which was a bit lucky in the end. A nice win, five goals, a good game of football and everyone is happy." Dutch potential Last night's victory ended a three-game winless run for the Dutch that included defeats to Sweden and Germany. Van Persie said: "It was very useful. Everybody showed that everybody was committed and there were a couple of good tackles. I don't think it was classic defending to be fair. I think everyone really went for it." The Netherlands' build-up to EURO 2012 ends with three warm-up friendlies in the space of a week at the end of May and beginning of June. Robben said: "For us, it's very important to continue what we're doing. Before this game we had a bad series, because we lost against Germany 3-0 and also against Sweden and Switzerland we had difficulties. "We have a great squad. We have great potential still. Although everybody's getting a year older, we're still at a good age and now we go to the EURO to win - no doubt about that. Not with arrogance, but I think if you have a great squad, you go to a tournament to win and not to reach the quarter-finals." Van Persie and Robben are part of one of the most feared forward lines in world football. But the latter said: "For us, the most important thing is that we work as a team. "The only way the players up front can make a difference is if the organisation in the team is right. The midfielders and the defenders are as important as the other players."