Van Bommel: Unhappy with criticism

Holland, runners-up to Spain at the 2010 World Cup, were favoured to do well at the tournament but defeats to Denmark and Germany have put them on the verge of elimination before the knock-out phase.

It has not been a happy week for the Dutch players, criticised by sections of their country's media and rumoured to be divided among themselves ahead of their final group fixture against Portugal on Sunday.

Skipper Van Bommel is unhappy with the line of some of the criticism that has come his way, saying: "Before I was a hero, now I am nothing more than the son-in-law of (Bert) Van Marwijk.

"I read the criticism, and I understand it. But I do not find it justified.

"These past four years, we were kings, and I didn't hear anything (criticism). Now we have no value."

Coach Bert van Marwijk is considering his options for the Portugal game, where even a win by two goals will not be enough if Denmark draw with Germany.

Arjen Robben, who reacted angrily to his substitution against Germany, is one of the players that Van Marwijk admits could make way.

"I drew a lot of conclusions from our defeat against Germany," he said.

"We defended carelessly and the service of both Ibrahim Afellay and Arjen Robben from the flanks was not good enough."