Posts Tagged ‘Dutch Team’

The  Dutch soccer team is  preparing for  the World Championship in South Africa  and their results so far are  impressive.  Especially  Arjen   Robben from Bayern Munich   Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan, Champions League winners  and  Robin van Persie  (and let’s not forget Rafael van der Vaart from Spanish giant Real Madrid) are on the top of their game in the last months  and in the Champions League final Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and  Mark van Bommel, captain of Bayern Munich  (son in law of coach Bert van Marwijk) played a  great  game.

The  Dutch team has  made it to the World Cup final twice in a row, in  1974 in West Germany  and 1978 in Argentina.  In 1974  Johan Cruijff   was by far  the best player of the world and Johan Cruijff was also chosen best player of the tournament in 1974.  The world still wonders how it was ever possible that the  Dutch  lost  the   final match  against West Germany. In 1978 it was  top player Rob Rensenbrink  who hit the post in  the last  minute of the  final  against Argentina. Although less impressive than in 1974, the  team  only lost after extra time, the first  World Cup final  that  had to be decided in 120 minutes.   Argentina  eventually won 3-1.

The  Dutch team has  always had  top notch players  (in recent history everyone remembers  strikers Marco van Basten  and  Dennis “The Iceman” Bergkamp) but never really came as close again as they were in Argentina in 1978.  In 1988 Marco van Basten had led them to the European Championship, the only title the Dutch have won so far, with an incredible goal in the final. The reached the semi final  in 1998 in France  but lost it on penalties against  Brazil.  Dennis Bergkamp had scored his  incredible goal  in the  last minute  of the quarter final against  Argentina,  a goal for which the  English  honored him with the  now very famous slogan  “Dennis is God.”

This year it seems to all depend on the form of  Sneijder  and  Robin van Persie,  although the other  teams in the Dutch group, Cameroon, Japan and Denmark  probably fear dribble king Arjen  Robben  most. His  very first  season in Germany with  German Champions Bayern Munich  was  a total success  and  Robben  seemed to score his goals in every  key   for Bayern,  including the incredible  strike against fellow Dutchman  Edwin van der Sar,  goalie of Manchester United in  the quarter final  of the Champions League.

If  all Dutch players  play like they played with their club teams this last season,  the Dutch are not just an outsider for the World Cup, but a  likely winner.  Only time will tell.

Outright Odds: 12/1
Group C Winners: 13/8

New coach Marco van Basten has proven to be a revelation off the pitch as much as he was on it since taking over the Dutch national team. Plucked from an obscure youth coaching role at Ajax where he kept his head down and had low responsibilities when Dick Advocaat quit after Euro 2004, van Basten has made this new-look Dutch team his own.

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be van Basten’s philosophy so while former well known favourites such as Clarence Seedorf and Patrick Kluivert have been given the chop, some of the best players the Dutch Eredivisie has to offer have come in to replace them.

Players such as AZ Alkmaar’s Denny Landzaat, Feyenoord’s Dirk Kuyt and Ajax’s Ryan Babel may not be household names yet but have all won the backing of the manager. Ajax have a strong representation in the squad, with John Heitinga, Nigel de Jong, Hedwiges Maduro and Wesley Sneijder, all under the age of 23, vying for a place in the starting line-up.

The faith shown in locally-based players along with more recognisable faces such as evergreen trio Edwin van der Sar, Edgar Davids and Philip Cocu and the likes of Arjen Robben and Ruud van Nistelrooy has paid off.

The team are showing true team spirit and togetherness, unlike the inconsistent squads of the past and in qualifying notched up 32 points, the highest of any European side. Holland finished five points clear at the top of their group that also included bogey side Czech Republic and Romania, both of whom they beat twice. Surprisingly, the only country they didn’t beat was Macedonia who they drew with twice.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was in scintillating form during qualifying with seven goals in 10 matches and now back in favour at Manchester United, could be a good investment for the top goalscorer market.

The Dutch are always one of the favourites for the tournament but never quite manage it. They have reached the final twice, the semi finals and quarter final stages but never have enough to win it outright.

The team entering this year have little World Cup experience and it would be a big ask of this team to go all the way in Germany.

BetBonus.co.uk Recommendation:
Holland offer better value to win Group C than Argentina but a lack of experience throughout the squad means they cannot be backed to win the tournament outright. Ruud van Nistelrooy could be a good each-way investment for the top goal scorer berth on his debut at the finals.

Holland to win Group C @ 13/8
E/W Ruud van Nistelrooy as top goalscorer @ 16/1