Sidelined Blind's faith in team

Netherlands midfielder Daley Blind is out of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship with an ankle injury but is ready to urge his team on to victory.

Six weeks out
Blind was suspended for the opening 2-2 draw with Belgium but on Friday against Iceland returned to score twice against Iceland only to be forced off near the end of the 3-0 win. "We go to the hospital tomorrow after breakfast and there is just a sprain of the ankle I think," Blind told uefa.com. "I hope it will heal soon. I expect I will be out for six weeks."

Frustration
Understandably, Blind is not thrilled to be sidelined as the Netherlands face a crucial Monday encounter with England still needing a point to reach the semi-finals. "It will be very frustrating," said Blind, who recently signed professional terms with AFC Ajax. "But I am happy for the team, and I am feeling part of the team too. Of course it is frustrating but I scored two goals in one game, that is a good thing for myself."

Attacking tactics
Although avoiding defeat would be enough for the Dutch against England, Blind - remaining with the squad in their Nivelles base - says they will adopt their usual attacking tactics in Tubize. "I think we must play our own game, that is the best thing we can do," he said. "In qualifying we only needed a draw against Turkey but we won 1-0. If we play defensively the other team will have more chances to score."

Father and son
Blind's father Danny was, of course, an Ajax and Netherlands player himself, but that has not always made life easy for Daley. "Sometimes there is a bit of pressure, people watch you because you are the son of Danny Blind, only look at you in the game," he said. "If you play well they say: 'Yes, you played well,' but if you make one mistake they say: 'He is the son of Blind, he is only there because of his dad.' But I play my own game and do my best for the team."

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