South Africa World Cup 2010 Group E: The Netherlands

GROUP E

The Netherlands Japan Cameroon Denmark

* = Seeded Team
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]

*The Netherlands

Road to South Africa

The Dutch had a flawless record in qualifying, winning all eight of their Group 9 matches against the likes of Norway, Scotland, Macedonia and Iceland. In doing so they became the first country, other than hosts South Africa, to confirm their place at the World Cup.

Holland scored 17 goals in qualifying and conceded just two, making them one of the form teams heading into the competition. Paraguay proved the Oranje are not completely invincible recently though, grinding out a 0-0 draw in a friendly in Heerenveen.

The Netherlands have been perennial bridesmaids at the World Cup, twice getting to the final in 1974 and 1978. Could they go one better in South Africa?

Fixtures

The Netherlands Kit 1 Copyright © Soccerphile	The Netherlands Kit 2 Copyright © Soccerphile

The Netherlands v Denmark 14 June; Johannesburg
The Netherlands v Japan 19 June; Durban
The Netherlands v Cameroon 24 June; Cape Town

Analysis

The Dutch squad looks, on paper at least, as strong as any side in the tournament and their current FIFA ranking as third best team in the world reflects that.

Wesley Sneijder was one of the stars of Euro 2008 and despite recent injury problems, looks set shine again in South Africa. Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie share Sneijder's ability of being able to decide a game and if these three players are on form, the Dutch will take some stopping.

Skipper Giovanni van Bronckhorst, midfield talisman Mark van Bommel and workhorse striker Dirk Kuyt have seen it all before, while mercurial midfielder Rafael van der Vaart seems to have been around for an eternity - despite being just 26.

Perhaps the only weakness resides in goal, where the Dutch have struggled to replace legendary custodian Edwin van der Saar. Ajax shot-stopper Maarten Stekelenburg is the current incumbent, but doubts remain about his composure under pressure.

Holland's group, consisting of Denmark, Japan and Cameroon is a tricky one, but for a team with genuine ambition of winning the World Cup, this opposition shouldn't pose any great threat.

Key player: Wesley Sneijder

Sneijder made his debut for the Holland aged 18 years and 325 days old, making him the youngest ever player to turn out for the full national team.

Now 25, Sneijder has made over 50 appearances for Holland and many will feel this World Cup is the perfect opportunity for the midfielder to show he's one of the best talents around.

His speed, shooting and crossing ability makes him a defender's nightmare. A recent poll in a Dutch football magazine also revealed that over 70% of fans think he's Holland's best freekick taker.

Key player: Mark van Bommel

The Dutch have a wealth of creative talent at their disposal, so it’s up to the coach’s son-in-law Mark van Bommel to do the dirty work in midfield, with the combative anchorman a tough-tackling terrier in the centre of the park.

One to watch: Gregory van der Wiel

Aged just 21, Gregory van der Wiel is already a model of consistency for club and country.

The Ajax right-back has over 50 league games under his belt and has also made seven starts for Holland to date and is attracting interest from clubs around the World. Arsenal and Juventus are amongst those though to be keen on signing Van der Wiel and good performances at the World Cup might make it difficult for Ajax to hold on to one their starlets.

One to watch: Eljero Elia

Goals have proved hard to come by for the Dutch - who recorded three 0-0 draws in post-qualification friendlies, so the tricky wing play of rising young star Eljero Elia could prove decisive in unlocking stubborn defences.

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Lambertus 'Ber' van Marwijk excelled as a club manager in Holland, with the likes of Fortuna Sittard and Feyenoord. He won the UEFA Cup during his time with Feyenoord and also managed German giants Borussia Dortmund for two seasons.

Having succeeded Marco van Basten as Holland's national manager after Euro 2008, Van Marwijk has his first chance to prove his worth on an international stage at this World Cup.

Van Marwijk is the father-in-law of legendary midfielder Mark van Bommel. Van Bommel's selection will be an interesting topic of conversation in Holland in the run-up to South Africa therefore.

At 57, van Marwijk has been around for some time, but it’s only the past decade in spells at Feyenoord and German club Borussia Dortmund that he has made a name for himself, and this is his first major tournament in charge of the Dutch national team.

Record

1934, 1938 First Round; 1990, 2006 Second Round, 1994 Quarter-finals; 1998 Semi-finals; 1974, 1978 Runners-up

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

The Oranje will make it out of the group and go out in the second round as they did four years ago.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

Topped European qualifying group 9.

On the sidelines

Patrick Kluivert is the Netherlands's highest goalscorer with 40.
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Soccerphile says

With a team of stars and current bookmakers odds of 14-1, Holland fall nicely into the category of 'dark horse' to win the World Cup, though the Dutch are yet to make good on all their promise and lift a World Cup trophy

The Dutch's problem at previous tournaments has been more with one another rather than their opponents, with a number of well-publicised arguments involving players and coaches in the past. Under Van Marwijk, the squad seems well settled though and if the likes of Sneijder, Van Persie and Robben turn it on, Holland can go far in this competition.

Once again they go into the finals with high expectations, but the lack of an authoritative goalkeeper, a struggling front line and an inexperienced coach mean that while they should get out of a group containing Japan, Denmark and Cameroon, their fate could lay in the hands of the draw thereafter.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Andre Ooijer (PSV)
Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV)
Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (HSV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

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