Netherlands' coach Gido Vermeulen during training in Verona
Verona, Italy, September 21, 2014 – The Netherlands hope to surprise with their mix of young and more experienced players at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014.Leading a team with eleven girls who are under 24 and with only two who have played on the court at a world championship before, coach Gido Vermeulen said he has not set goals for themselves – as well as no limits.“We really want to find our experience here cause it’s the first time (at a world championship) for most of the team, so we have to go in day by day and step by step. I think we can survive the first pool, and then we’ll see what will happen, because we will cross against the other pools. It will be potentially a pretty tough challenge, but you don’t know. We are a young team, so we can surprise.”The Dutch come into the competition with high morale after making it to the final round of group 2 at the World Grand Prix this summer, a result that Vermeulen said belongs to the younger part of the team, as the older players only joined in the later stage.“We had a fairly good summer, the youngsters were playing fairly well in the Grand Prix. We are happy to be here and really want to surprise. It’s a very young team and very enthusiastic.”The Netherlands’ coach believes the blend of generations makes for a balanced squad.“We are physically in really good shape, if we play a match in training that we don’t know who is winning cause we are so equal. We have a good mix: a lot of experienced players and a lot of young girls who have a lot of potential. It’s difficult for a coach to choose the best (to put on court) sometimes.”Vermeulen believes Italy is a good place for the youngest to debut at the highest level.“They don’t know what the world championship is, but it is nice cause it’s in Italy, a volleyball country. It’s nice to play for the home crowd here.”With Manon Flier, Robin De Kruijf and Lonneke Sloetjes having played in Italian clubs before, and with setter Femke Stoltenborg going to join club Ornavasso this year, Italy is arleady second home for a few of the Dutch players. The Netherlands will play their first match against Kazakhstan at PalaOlimpia on Tuesday at 10:30.