Zoet hopes Oranje add up to sum of their parts

One of 14 players in the Netherlands' UEFA European Under-21 Championship squad to have been involved in the senior set-up, goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet feels the Jong Oranje's experience could prove key in Israel this month.

Involved in all but one of the Netherlands' ten qualifying games, Zoet's Eredivisie form on loan at RKC Waalwijk from PSV Eindhoven also caught the attention of national-team coach Louis van Gaal. Though Zoet is yet to make a full debut, 12 of his colleagues in Israel can lay claim to at least one cap. Midfielder Tonny Trindade de Vilhena, like Zoet, has also been involved under Van Gaal.

"I think that individually, player by player, you can say we have a very good team," said Zoet, whose side kick off their Group B campaign against Germany on Thursday. "From that we need to become a real team. I think we could make a squad where everyone has already played once for the senior team; I don't think many countries participating at the European Championship could say that. It's good, of course, but we now need to show we can play good football."

After 2009 winners Germany, come Russia on 9 June, followed by holders Spain three days later. "You know that when you mention those countries, you will have a tough time," added the 22-year-old. "But those teams have also gone through qualification – and we did the same. Yes, I think we have to be at our best in every match to be able to beat them and achieve our goal, which is to become European champions."

View the video player at the top of the page for the full Zoet interview.