Wesley Sneijder says he hit "rock bottom" following Netherlands' World Cup final loss to Spain in 2010.
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Sneijder, 30, was a member of the Oranje side that were defeated 1-0 by La Roja at the showpiece event in South Africa four years ago.
The Galatasaray player concedes that no result in his career has ever hit him so hard, but he and his international teammates will be out for revenge when the two teams meet again in their Group B opener on Friday.
"That's really the low point of my career," Sneijder was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "I had to walk past the cup but could not hold it. It felt very sour. That will always be my rock bottom.
"We were so close to penalties and the game was still there, just three minutes before the end of extra-time.
"It was a shame because we had beaten Brazil in the quarterfinal, a night when we turned the whole game. I scored twice. Two goals, one with my head, and a 1-0 deficit turned into a place in the semifinals.
"You just felt at one point that we were going to win. And then the final against Spain just went wrong."
Sneijder, who is line to win his 100th cap for Netherlands on Friday, had the captaincy taken off him by Louis van Gaal, with Robin van Persie handed the armband.
But the midfielder has played down the impact that decision has had on his game, while he insists he wants to play on for his country for many more years yet.
"I'm not a captain, but still a leader," Sneijder said. "The team spirit is good, much better than two years ago [at Euro 2012].
"I will do everything to keep it that way, because it's important at a major tournament. I know that from experience.
"These are my sixth major finals but I will keep going. You will see me in four years. This is a big week but it's only one game. We need a result against Spain. That's the point.
"We may not have a top team. But we play compact and can switch the ball quickly. We have a chance."
Meanwhile, Van Persie feels Netherlands have come a long way since the loss to Spain back in 2010.
"Spain have a fantastic team, with players like Diego Costa and David de Gea, my teammate at Manchester United, and in my opinion have the best team in the world,'' Van Persie told www.onsoranje.nl.
"But we are also very good, so don't forget that and do not underestimate Netherlands. Although as a squad, we may be much younger than four years ago, there are also lots of opportunities.
"We have to prove ourselves again, but it is also a great challenge.
"In the past, what we often saw were jokes being made [within the squad] at the beginning, but now I think that is less and this is purely because of our focus.
"We are looking forward to it and are really eager to get started."
Van Persie added: "I have faith in our team, if we -- and I mean not only the players, but also the staff and the Dutch press -- can say that we have had a very nice tournament, then whatever the outcome, for us the World Cup will have been more than successful."
Van Persie was troubled by fitness problems with his groin and knee during Manchester United's Premier League campaign.
However, the 30-year-old is not concerned over his ability to stand up to the rigours of what could well be his last World Cup.
"The last few days I have trained fully and so have no more problems. I am ready for it," he said. "Besides, for six years I have been playing with aches and pains, there is always something and I have learned to live with it.''
Information from the Press Association was used in this report