World Cup in his blood: Netherlands' Van Hecke aims to build on uncle's success

[p]His uncle [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/poortvliet-jan/0KHh14dc/"]Jan Poortvliet[/a] played in defence for the Dutch in the 1978 final, where they lost the deciding game to hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] in extra time.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-hecke-jan-paul/WG59HGIH/"]Van Hecke[/a] is expected to be in ‌the line-up on Sunday in Dallas when they get their Group F ‌campaign underway against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a], partnering captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a] in ‌central defence.[/p][p][b]“An enormous feeling of pride,” [/b]he told reporters.[b] “It’s fantastic to be here.”[/b][/p][p]Van Hecke gets his chance after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a] was ruled out of the ‌tournament by injury.[/p][p][b]“It’s my dream, but it was ⁠also his dream,” [/b]Van Hecke ‌said.[b] “It’s a real shame that his dream has fallen apart.”[/b][/p][p]Ironically, Van Hecke’s ​uncle also broke into the Dutch team in 1978 in similar circumstances, having debuted for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a] a fortnight ​before the World Cup kicked off and being picked for the squad as something of an outsider.[/p][p]But when first-choice left-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hovenkamp-hugo/Ue1bw14j/"]Hugo Hovenkamp[/a] ⁠got injured, Poortvliet got ​to play.[/p][p][b]“Hugo was in the form of his life, but that’s how things sometimes go,” [/b]Poortvliet told Dutch NOS television.[/p][image alt="Jan Poortvliet (background, facing camera) watches as Mario Kempes scores for Argentian in the 1978 World Cup final" id="314901fc-e76c-4eef-858f-36105f10f30f" credit-line="STAFF / AFP / AFP / Profimedia" guid="98b53aa3-c6f0-408a-9e40-fb3cb211d3a7" original-width="1400" original-height="926" /][p]He went on to play six matches in Argentina, showing his versatility at left-back, right-back and ‌as a defensive midfielder.[/p][h2]Uncle coached nephew[/h2][p]Poortvliet, now 70, has managed several Dutch clubs, was at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/southampton/WdKOwxDM/"]Southampton[/a] for six months in 2008 and briefly coached Van Hecke at under-17 level.[/p][p][b]“Even then he had that strong determination to seize every opportunity,” [/b]he said of his nephew, now at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton & Hove Albion[/a].[/p][p][b]“Jan Paul is so stable, impossible to knock off course, both in football and in life. What he has achieved is very impressive. He may occasionally have a ‌poor game, but he stays focused.”[/b][/p][p]Van Hecke told reporters last week ​he expected a tough start for the Dutch against Japan.[/p][p][b]“We’re ‌facing a strong opponent right away. Winning 1–0 at Wembley against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] says a lot. In my opinion, my teammate ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kaoru-mitoma/faIBBRXl/"]Kaoru[/a]) Mitoma was their best player.[/b][/p][p][b]“I’m very sorry for him that he had to withdraw from the World Cup because of injury ⁠and will miss the tournament. ⁠But even without Mitoma, Japan ‌have a strong team,” [/b]Van Hecke said.[/p]