Technically brilliant and exciting up front, Holland are one of those nations you always enjoy watching. But why do they clam up when the going gets tough?
Their record at World Cups can only be described as under-achieving. Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Gullit, the de Boer twins and many other great Dutch players have never laid their hands on a World Cup trophy and two trips to the final, in 1974 and ’78, is as good as it has ever been for the nation.
However, the squad which travels to South Africa this summer is one of the best which has been assembled in many years. Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder team up after facing one another in the Champions League final with their respective clubs, and they will prove menacing for any opposition.
In defence there are question marks over the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhurst and Khalid Boulahrouz, old and antagonistic respectively. Maarten Stekelenburg has the unenviable task of filling Edwin van der Sar’s boots between the posts and after 26 international appearances it is looking a continuously difficult role to step into.
At the business end there are numerous options for head coach Bert van Marwijk. Robin van Persie returned to club action for Arsenal before the season came to an end following a five-month injury and his prowess in front of goal will be relied upon. Dirk Kuyt, Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong bring tenacity in bucket loads and Ryan Babel may prove to be the perfect impact substitute.
It has been a yellow-brick road all the way to South Africa for the Dutch. They were virtually flawless in qualification with eight wins from eight matches, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.
As history shows, however, Holland bottle it on the big occasion. Will their rich vein of form continue into the showpiece event? Not if they meet Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Star Player: Arjen Robben
An absolute gem. Robben was on fire last season for club and country, tasting double domestic bliss with Bayern Munich and winning a Champions League runners-up medal.
The 26-year-old is in the prime of his career and has played at the top level with PSV, Chelsea and Real Madrid before moving to Germany last year.
Robben’s only downside is that he can be injury prone. If he were to pick up a knock at the finals it would be a major blow to Dutch courage. I mean confidence.
Manager: Bert van Marwijk
The Holland head coach has put himself in a lose-lose situation really.
Van Marwijk has coasted along to the finals with his players and expectations are higher than ever following his declaration of intent that his side will win the tournament – a message he has made public on numerous occasions.
Tactics and personnel changes during matches will prove crucial to Holland’s chances and van Marwijk may not be the man he was in the eyes of the Dutch FA and supporters after this tournament is over.
Prediction: Quarter-finalists
Progression to the second round should be a handy task for the Dutch and the runners-up of Group F – likely to be Paraguay or Slovakia – will not pose a major threat either.
The cookie will crumble in the quarters against Brazil if our predictions go according to plan. The Dutch will find the Samba boys too hot to handle.
Odds: 10/1
Irishness rating: 9/10
We share a common bond when it comes to flooding. Our little country seems to get washed out every winter (and sometimes summer too!) just like the nation of the dams. A loathing of all things English is also a common thread. In addition, Tulips are in plentiful supply in the Netherlands and there are a number of those on our current national team.
If they were a car they’d be…
A Lexus – Plenty of luxury but lives in the shadows of the top guns.
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