Netherlands

  • Friday, 21 May, 2010
  • Netherlands

Group E contenders
Netherlands
 
Denmark
Japan
Cameroon

Route to the finals
The Netherlands were the first European nation to qualify for South Africa 2010 after an absolutely flawless qualifying campaign.

Winning all eight of their games in Group 9, the Oranjes finished 14 points ahead of their nearest rivals Norway.

Scoring 17 goals and conceding just two, they also produced the most miserly defence in the European zone.

Manager
Bert van Marwijk took over the Oranjes after their disappointing Euro 2008 campaign. While he may not have the high profile of previous managers such as Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Guus Hiddink, he is letting the performances of his team do the talking.

He brought domestic and European success to Feyenoord during two stints with the Dutch side in the early part of the new millennium and his reputation has increased accordingly in recent seasons.

Player watch
Just as in years gone by, the Netherlands’ attacking prowess is liable to be their biggest threat. The quartet of Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Wesley Sneijder (Inter), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich) and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan) are all in their mid-twenties and have enjoyed superb domestic form in recent seasons, and their contribution could be vital if the Oranjes are to progress in this year’s tournament.

Competition History
First appearance: 1934
No. of appearances (inc 2010): 9
Best result: Runners-up (1974 & 1978)
Matches against England: 18

Squad

Goalkeepers

1

Maarten Stekelenburg

Ajax, NED

16

Michel Vorm

FC Utrecht, NED

22

Sander Boschker

FC Twente, NED

Defenders

2

Gregory van der Wiel

Ajax, NED

3

Johnny Heitinga

Everton, ENG

4

Joris Mathijsen

Hamburger SV, GER

5

Giovanni van Bronckhorst

Feyenoord, NED

12

Khalid Boulahrouz

VfB Stuttgart, GER

13

André Ooijer

PSV, NED

15

Edson Braafheid

Celtic, SCO

Midfielders

6

Mark van Bommel

Bayern München, GER

8

Nigel de Jong

Manchester City, ENG

10

Wesley Sneijder

Internazionale, ITA

14

Demy de Zeeuw

Ajax, NED

18

Stijn Schaars

AZ, NED

20

Ibrahim Afellay

PSV, NED

23

Rafael van der Vaart

Real Madrid, ESP

Forwards

7

Dirk Kuyt

Liverpool, ENG

9

Robin van Persie

Arsenal, ENG

11

Arjen Robben

Bayern München, GER

17

Eljero Elia

Hamburger SV, GER

19

Ryan Babel

Liverpool, ENG

21

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

AC Milan, ITA


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