Manchester United star Daley Blind believes Tuesday's match between the Netherlands and Spain will be anything but a friendly as the visitors head to Amsterdam with a score to settle
The mouthwatering fixture, which will be shown live on MUTV in the UK and Ireland, will be the first meeting between the two sides since last summer's World Cup finals in Brazil when the Dutch, managed at the time by Louis van Gaal, thrashed the holders 5-1 in the group stages.
Blind was the architect of Robin van Persie's stunning headed goal in a game which he rates as one of the best in his career. He's now looking forward to testing himself against the Spaniards again, and possibly his United team-mate David De Gea, on Tuesday night at the Amsterdam ArenA.
"It’s always nice to play against big teams like Spain," Blind told MUTV. "We know it will be difficult and a totally different game to the one at the World Cup."
When asked if Spain will have an extra determination to win, he added with a smile: "I think so, I would have some revenge feelings if I lost against a team too! That wouldn’t only be after a game at the World Cup though. If you lose against any team you always want to win the next time you play them. So I think they will have those feelings."
In De Gea, Blind believes United and Spain have one of the best goalkeepers around, and the Dutchman says it's been enjoyable to sit back and admire the progress the stopper has made, particularly this term.
"David is doing a great job here this season. He’s one of the best keepers in the world at the moment. We’re very happy that he’s in the goal and he has made some great saves," added Blind. "All the credit goes to him. He works very hard and is getting better all the time.
"His shot-stopping is one of his best skills but you also have to look at how he plays [with his feet] and how he comes for crosses - the way he has improved that is very impressive.
"He has got better in every way. The skills when he is saving goals and also the skills with his feet - they make him an all-round keeper and that’s one of the best things about him."
Tuesday's friendly is preceded by Euro 2016 qualifiers - De Gea was an unused substitute when Spain beat Ukraine 1-0 on Friday evening, while Blind is in the Netherlands squad for Saturday night's home clash against Turkey. Van Persie is absent from this international stint as the United striker continues his recovery from injury.
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