Ki-Jana Hoever aiming high for U17 World Cup in Brazil
Ki-Jana Hoever is aiming to make club and country proud as he sets off to participate in the FIFA U17 World Cup with the Netherlands.
The Liverpool defender is part of the 21-man Dutch squad for the prestigious youth tournament in Brazil, which gets under way later this week.
Hoever and his teammates, who clinched glory at the U17 European Championship in May, depart for South America today.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Hoever told Liverpoolfc.com.
“It’s a big experience to go all the way to Brazil and play games over there in decent stadiums. I hope a lot of people will come to watch and we’ll have a crowd.
“It’s a big thing in Holland, a lot of people watch it. It’s on one of the biggest television [networks] in Holland, it’s watched and it’s quite big.
“Of course, if you win it or make it far, there’s a lot of attention.”
The Netherlands will have the rest of the week to acclimatise to the conditions before their first match of Group D, against Japan on Sunday night.
The section includes sides from four different continents, with Senegal and USA the other opponents for Hoever’s nation on October 30 and November 2 respectively.
“That’s quite interesting,” said the 17-year-old. “Every country has a different style because they all come from different continents.
“We played USA before but I wasn’t playing in that game. It’s warm over there in Brazil, so there are more things than only the football involved.
“We go a little bit early, a week before the game. We need to settle and get used to the weather over there. It’s difficult for us but if we just focus for the 90 minutes, we can do it.”
The top two teams in each of the six groups will automatically qualify for the Round of 16, to be joined by the four best third-placed countries.
The Dutch already have the experience of going all the way in a knockout tournament and Hoever believes they can target glory in Brazil.
“That’s our goal: to go there and win it. We have trust that we can do that,” the former Ajax starlet, who became the fourth-youngest scorer in Reds history last month, said.
“In a tournament, we only need to win six or seven games and you can be champions. It’s not over a long period like the Champions League, it’s six or seven games to give your all, do your best and you can win it.
“Everyone can give his all in seven games. It’s important everyone does that and then we have a chance.
“Of course [winning the trophy] would be great. The Euros was already great but the World Cup would be even bigger. It would be great if we win it.”
Rhian Brewster was a key member of the England squad that won the U17 World Cup two years ago, the striker enhancing his reputation with eight goals throughout the competition.
Hoever is aware that the trip to Brazil offers a chance to impress his club in addition to representing his country, but the collective quest is his primary focus.
“I don’t only go there for myself,” he said. “I’m going to show everyone, but I’m more going to win it with the team and to represent Liverpool and make a statement again. I will try everything to win it with the boys.”