Babel believes in Dutch dream

For some teams the loss of a striker of the calibre of Klaas Jan Huntelaar might have created a hole too great to fill. Not for the Netherlands where Ryan Babel steps into the breach confident of helping the Jong Oranje reclaim the UEFA European Under-21 Championship title. At just 20 the AFC Ajax striker is already a regular for the senior side and has played just once at this level, but that does not diminish his desire for success on home soil.

uefa.com: How do you expect to do in the finals?

Ryan Babel: We'll do our best which is all we can do. If we do that we will do well. It's good that a few of the lads have the experience of last year's tournament in Portugal. They can help the rest of the team handle certain situations.

uefa.com: Who should we look out for in the Dutch squad?

Babel: Midfielder Luigi Bruins and Ismaïl Aissati, who is already well known in the Netherlands but may not be so famous abroad yet. We have a lot of good players who could be a surprise during the tournament.

uefa.com: How well do you know your Group B opponents?

Babel: I don't know too much about them yet. I know a little bit about the strength of Belgium, who have some players who play in the Eredivisie. Portugal a little less, while I really don't know anything about Israel yet. They are the big unknown to me, although it speaks volumes that they knocked out France on their way to the tournament.

uefa.com: You played under Foppe de Haan on home soil in the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup. What are his strengths as a coach?

Babel: He organises things very well, explains exactly where he wants you to play, and what he expects you to do in that position. He gets that over very well to the players.

uefa.com: Do you ever think about your debut for the Dutch senior team, when you scored against Romania in 2005?

Babel: I think of that with a lot of pride. It is very special to score on your debut. I take lot of pleasure fom that.

uefa.com: You aren't the oldest player in the Dutch team, but maybe the most experienced. Can you use that to help the less experienced players in the squad?

Babel: I can have a role in helping the less experienced players, but they have quality and are mentally strong already, otherwise they wouldn't be in the squad.

uefa.com: You're a versatile attacker. Do you prefer to play on the wing or in the centre?

Babel: In the centre you have more opportunity to shine than on the wing which is why I've always said, and still do, that that position suits me best and offers more scope for my game.

uefa.com: As a senior international how does it feel to be back in the Under-21s?

Babel: The feeling is a bit different. With the senior Oranje you are just one of 23 players, while in this squad I'm one of the players who draws extra attention. Other than that there is not much difference, the preparation and so on is the same. The focus for me is the same as last summer's World Cup.

uefa.com: How does it feel to hear that so many big European clubs are following your performances?

Babel: It's nice to hear but as there's nothing concrete I just focus on Ajax and don't think about it.