Euro 2008 winner candidate: Netherlands
Table of Contents
FIFA Ranking (as of May 2008): 10
Schedule:
09/06/2008 v Italy
13/06/2008 v France
17/06/2008 v Romania
Netherlands is another great underachievers in international football, along with Spain.
The Oranje always loaded with talent and produced some of the world's top players but failed to carry out as a nation.
They were always included as one of the favorites in every major tournament, just like this year.
The Dutch national side had only managed to get through into the final of a European Championship in two occasions.
Ironically, their club were dominating Europe in the 70's and claiming four successive European Cup titles.
Then they stepped into the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final with a play that most people remembered as "Total Footbal."
The legendary Johan Cruyff, alongside with Arie Haan and Johan Neeskens, were included on this side.
The Netherlands finally got their first trophy in Euro 1988, after they beat Soviet Union 2-0 in the final.
Their boss Marco van Basten was one of the most dreadful striker in the late 80's and early 90's.
He scored in the 2-0 victory in 1988 European Championship Final and his goal perhaps is the most spectacular goal ever seed in the history of the tournament.
As a coach, he made the bold move of picking players from outside "The Big Three" - Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven - and not afraid to exclude top names.
He will face this tournament as his last with the national side before take charge at Ajax.
With loads of talented players on his squad, van Basten need to make a good combination for his tactical system.
Some of his key players are still slightly injured or just back from injury.
Maybe one of his players who we will need to keep an eye on is Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
This is his first major tournament but lot is expected from one of European most wanted players.
Although there will be top-class attacking play from the Dutch Total Football, there is one problem for van Basten to solve.
Total Footbal needs world class defenders who can build up.
The Netherlands had some of them in the past, a player like Ronald Koeman, Danny Blind or Frank de Boer. The problem now is, they don’t have those kind of quality players.
However, we will still see Oranje play like they always played, just like van Basten and also what their fans want.
Netherlands Squad
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Martin Stekelenburg (Ajax)
Defenders: Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar), Orlando Engelaar (Twente); Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg)
Forwards: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic)
Related links:
Team
Also see:
Schedule:
09/06/2008 v Italy
13/06/2008 v France
17/06/2008 v Romania
Netherlands is another great underachievers in international football, along with Spain.
The Oranje always loaded with talent and produced some of the world's top players but failed to carry out as a nation.
They were always included as one of the favorites in every major tournament, just like this year.
The Dutch national side had only managed to get through into the final of a European Championship in two occasions.
Ironically, their club were dominating Europe in the 70's and claiming four successive European Cup titles.
Then they stepped into the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final with a play that most people remembered as "Total Footbal."
The legendary Johan Cruyff, alongside with Arie Haan and Johan Neeskens, were included on this side.
The Netherlands finally got their first trophy in Euro 1988, after they beat Soviet Union 2-0 in the final.
Their boss Marco van Basten was one of the most dreadful striker in the late 80's and early 90's.
He scored in the 2-0 victory in 1988 European Championship Final and his goal perhaps is the most spectacular goal ever seed in the history of the tournament.
As a coach, he made the bold move of picking players from outside "The Big Three" - Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven - and not afraid to exclude top names.
He will face this tournament as his last with the national side before take charge at Ajax.
With loads of talented players on his squad, van Basten need to make a good combination for his tactical system.
Some of his key players are still slightly injured or just back from injury.
Maybe one of his players who we will need to keep an eye on is Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
This is his first major tournament but lot is expected from one of European most wanted players.
Although there will be top-class attacking play from the Dutch Total Football, there is one problem for van Basten to solve.
Total Footbal needs world class defenders who can build up.
The Netherlands had some of them in the past, a player like Ronald Koeman, Danny Blind or Frank de Boer. The problem now is, they don’t have those kind of quality players.
However, we will still see Oranje play like they always played, just like van Basten and also what their fans want.
Netherlands Squad
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord), Martin Stekelenburg (Ajax)
Defenders: Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Khalid Boulahrouz (Sevilla)
Midfielders: Demy de Zeeuw (AZ Alkmaar), Orlando Engelaar (Twente); Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg)
Forwards: Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic)
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Related links:
Team
Also see:
