DALLAS: If Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke is to keep up family tradition, he will need to go all the way to the World Cup final. His uncle Jan Poortvliet played in defense for the Dutch in the 1978 final, where they lost the deciding game to hosts Argentina in extra time. Van Hecke is expected to be in the lineup on Sunday in Dallas when they get their Group F campaign underway against Japan, partnering captain Virgil van Dijk in central defense. “An enormous feeling of pride,” he told reporters.

De 26-jarige Jan Paul van Hecke speelt zondag tegen Japan waarschijnlijk zijn eerste WK-wedstrijd. Oom Jan Poortvliet deed mee aan het WK van 1978.

DALLAS, June 13 : If Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke is to keep up family tradition, he will need to go all the way to next month’s World Cup final. His uncle Jan…

DALLAS: If Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke is to keep up family tradition, he will need to go all the way to the World Cup final. His uncle Jan Poortvliet played in…