Wednesday 11 June 2014 11:24, UK
Michel Vorm is grateful to Swansea City for offering him a stage on which to push for international recognition with Holland.
The highly-rated goalkeeper has been part of the Dutch set-up for the last six years and made their squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
He has often found himself down the pecking order, though, and has collected just 14 senior caps.
A move to the Premier League in 2011 has, however, opened doors for him, with impressive showings for Swansea earning high praise.
Vorm is now pushing hard for a starting berth in Louis van Gaal’s plans at the 2014 World Cup and claims to be ready to embrace that challenge after raising his game in British football.
Teams like Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea have so many internationals it’s like a learning school. It makes me so grateful for the chance I was given coming here.
He said: “I was in South Africa in 2010 and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
“Obviously, I was four years younger and Maarten Stekelenburg was the No.1 and I was No. 2. I knew that was it and we had Sander Boschker who was No. 3. But now, four years further, things have changed.
“I went to Swansea and things happened. I have played more games for the national team than ever before under Louis van Gaal so now the spot was open.
“I think being at Swansea and being in the Premier League improved me.
“In the friendly in March against France I had to watch it at home as I was ill. Before, when I played in the Dutch league, I would look at the players for France and think they were international, big players.
“Now, I know them. A few of these guys are playing for Newcastle or whoever and I have come across them.
“I think it’s much easier when you know the players you are playing against. Not knowing them from images or videos, but from playing against them.
“Teams like Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea have so many internationals it’s like a learning school. It makes me so grateful for the chance I was given coming here.
“I have played so many big games for Swansea and it has made me a 100 per cent better goalkeeper.
“I’m more experienced and I feel better than ever, to be honest. This could be the moment for me.”
