World Cup Team Preview: Netherlands

After a disastrous EURO 2012, in which Bert Van Marwijk’s Holland team lost all three of their group games, the Dutch have bounced back in style. They qualified for the World Cup after winning nine and drawing one of their ten group games and will be desperate to put the nightmare of 2012 behind them.

The failure at EURO 2012 wasn’t an anticipated decline. Coming off the back of a superb World Cup in 2010, many expected the team to go one better in their more localised major tournament. But the Dutch crumbled both on and off the pitch. On the pitch in group games against Germany, Portugal and Denmark; off the pitch as a fractious, volatile atmosphere developed within the squad.

But that is in the past, and as we head towards the finals, the squad as a whole looks to be in very good shape. Louis Van Gaal has ushered out a chunk of the 2010 squad and has stumbled upon an encouraging blend of established squad members and blossoming youngsters. It means that world-class players like Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben still remain key figures, but they are supported by lesser-known burgeoning talents like Kevin Strootman, Bruno Martins-Indi and Jordy Clasie.

Despite their rip-roaring qualifying performances, there is a sense that this tournament might be too much too soon for this redeveloping outfit. The defence – whilst it is full of highly rated younger players – is crying out for an authoritative, experienced head. That could hinder them in the big, big pressure games but with players of the calibre of the aforementioned Robben and Van Persie performing at their very best, the Oranje have it in them to beat anyone on their day.

Best Ever Finish: Runners Up (1974, 1978, 2010)
Captain: Robin Van Persie
Manager: Louis Van Gaal
Key Player: Robben