Manager: Dick Advocaat
Star Players: Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, Jaap Stam
Honours: 1988 European Championship
Qualification: 2nd, Group 3. Play-off v. Scotland (6-1 agg.)

The Dutch have long been blessed with some of Europe’s greatest footballing talent but Dick Advocaat’s side needed to go through the playoffs to book their places in Portugal.

Having lost 3-1 in Prague, Holland travelled to Scotland only to be turned over 1-0 by their hosts, the goal coming from James McFadden. However, in the second leg in Amsterdam, the Dutch stamped their class all over Scotland, winning 6-0, Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring a hat-trick.

Equipped with the likes of van Nistelrooy, Patrick Kluivert, Philip Cocu and Edgar Davids, Holland deserve to be thought of as one team that could go all the way.

European Championship Record

Year

Year

1960: Did not qualify

1984: Did not qualify

1964: Did not qualify

1988: Winners

1968: Did not qualify

1992: Semi-FInals

1972: Did not qualify

1996: Quarter-Finals

1976: Semi-Finals

2000: Semi-Finals

1980: Group Stage

2004: Qualified


The Matches

Date

Opponents

Venue

Comp

KO

15 Jun 04

Germany

Porto (Dragão)

ECF

1945

19 Jun 04

Czech Republic

Aveiro (Municipal)

ECF

1945

23 Jun 04

Latvia

Braga (Municipal)

ECF

1945


The Squad

Player

Club

Posn

Caps

Goals

Edwin van der Sar

Fulham (Eng)

G

81

0

Ronald Waterreus

PSV Eindhoven

G

6

0

Frank de Boer

Rangers (Sco)

D

109

13

John Heitinga

Ajax

D

3

1

André Ooijer

PSV Eindhoven

D

13

1

Michael Reiziger

Barcelona (Spa)

D

66

1

Jaap Stam

Lazio (Ita)

D

59

3

Paul Bosvelt

Manchester City (Eng)

M

21

0

Phillip Cocu

Barcelona (Spa)

M

76

7

Edgar Davids

Barcelona (Spa)

M

61

6

Clarence Seedorf

Milan (Ita)

M

70

11

Wesley Sneijder

Ajax

M

6

2

Mark van Bommel

PSV Eindhoven

M

25

5

Andy van der Meyde

Internazionale (Ita)

M

10

1

Rafael van der Vaart

Ajax

M

16

3

Patrick Kluivert

Barcelona (Spa)

F

76

40

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Manchester Utd (Eng)

F

30

14

Roy Makaay

Bayern Munich (Ger)

F

29

3

Arjen Robben

PSV Eindhoven

F

4

2

Marc Overmars

Barcelona (Spa)

F

81

16

Pierre van Hooijdonk

Fenerbache

F

37

12

Boudewijn Zenden

Middlesbrough (Eng)

F

50

7

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Fenerbache

F

23

9


Statistics correct up to Holland v Greece, 28 April 2004