Holland striker Dirk Kuyt says he is disappointed he is set to start the Oranje's opening Euro 2012 Group B encounter with Denmark in Kharkiv on Saturday on the bench.
"Of course I am disappointed. All players starting off on the bench will be clearly. That's also the case with me," said the veteran forward who has just left Liverpool for Fenerbahce.
"Even so I accept the role of substitute. I am aware that my rivals in attack (Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, Ibrahim Afellay) are top drawer."
He added: "Reserves such as myself, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or Rafael van der Vaart, we must put pride aside. The important thing is the team. And even the reserves have to do everything they can to help the team reach its goal and win the tournment."
Kuyt, 31, can still hope that the Dutch will see his vast experience of the international game - he has scored 24 goals in 85 games - as an asset to fall back upon if need be should Bert van Marwijk's World Cup finalists require something special in reserve.
He has featured regularly enough under Van Marwijk's tutelage but with Afellay back from injury and Robben and van Persie in blistering recent form any impact he does hope to make will be from the bench.
Source: AFP
