The Netherlands finished in second place in the 2010 World Cup. Four years later, the team is hoping to finish at least second in Group B of the first round.
The Dutch followed the 2010 World Cup with a disastrous performance in the 2012 Euro Cup. Many expected the team to potentially win the title, but instead the Oranje wound up with three losses in three games. In that tournament the team was paired with Germany, Portugal and Denmark in the Group of Death. Things will not be much easier in Brazil as the Dutch will have to contend with Spain, Chile and Australia. Can the Dutch pull it off?
History
The Netherlands has never won the World Cup, but it has never been for a lack of trying. The team has made the final three times in nine World Cup appearances. The Dutch faced the Germans in the 1974 final and lost; four years later the national side fell victim to Argentina in the decisive match. In 2010, the Dutch pushed Spain to the limit but lost in the extra sessions by the score of 1-0. Aside from those three finals runs, the team has managed to get to the knockout rounds in each of its last seven World Cup appearances; the team failed to get out of the group stage in 1934 and 1938.
How did they get here?
The Dutch finished first in Group D of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers. The team won nine of 10 games and only tied once in the entire tournament. The Netherlands scored 34 times and only conceded five goals in the entire process; Robin Van Persie led all UEFA qualifiers with 11 goals.
The team's biggest victory in the entire round came in an 8-1 win over Hungary.
Biggest Stars
The Dutch will undoubtedly rely heavily on the likes of Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben. Van Persie was unsuccessful in the 2010 World Cup and only managed to score one goal in the entire tournament. Many believe that the exhaustive load of the Premier League schedule was the result of Van Persie looking exhausted throughout the tournament; it will not be any different this time around. Can Van Persie deliver in what is likely his last World Cup?
Robben is playing his best soccer of his career; he scored two goals in South Africa four years ago and should be even more lethal this time around.
The big question will be Wesley Sneijder. The Galatasaray star was the best Dutch player in 2010 and managed to score five goals throughout the tournament. However, his form has fallen off since then and he may actually be considered the worst of the trio on present form. He has struggled to remain on the national side and has played a total of seven matches since 2012 when he played 10 games for the Dutch.
The bigger question regarding the big three of course is whether they will learn to set their egos aside for the team's sake. Each of these players has caused controversy in major tournaments before. Van Persie caused unrest in 2010 while Robben stormed off the field in the Euro 2012 when he was subbed out agianst Germany; he also complained about egos on the team during the tournament.
Can they get out of the group?
Spain will present a good measuring stick for the Dutch. If they can beat the defending champs then they should have no trouble getting out of the group. If they tie, they are still in a good position to advance. However, a loss would likely put them in a precarious spot lest they knock off Chile and get some help from Spain and/or Australia.
Can they win the tournament?
The team's offense needs to play the way it did four years ago. But the defense also needs to emulate that form as well. Most of the backline is young and inexperienced and poses a real challenge for the team to overcome. This team is a mix of young up-and-comers and fading veterans; it is unlikely that the Dutch relive their experience from four years ago. If the team wins the group then a quarterfinal appearance is possible. However, a second place finish in the group likely means a date with Brazil. Four years ago the Dutch knocked Brazil out of the tournament. Do not expect a repeat of that in Brazil against the host nation.
The Dutch will likely finish their tournament in the round of 16.
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