Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hit out at Dutch critics of Robin van Persie.
The Dutch football public want Van Persie dropped and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar selected as Holland's main striker.
Wenger said: "Robin van Persie deserves more credit in Holland than he gets. I think he was still the best striker at the European Championships.
"I watched all his games. If you look at the runs he made, his passing, everything really, was very good. He did not take some of his chances but that was down to tiredness. Robin is a class above other strikers. A class above Huntelaar."
Wenger who, after the Euros, will make a final attempt to get Van Persie to sign a new deal with the Gunners, went on: "Robin is not just a great striker or a great player. He is an exceptional player.
"He did not have to prove himself here. I can understand he wanted to prove that he can score goals for Holland. That is an obvious ambition because he is so intense, he loves the game so much."