World Cup countdown - Netherlands
May 24, 2006 Edition 1
The Netherlands might just be the most infuriating team in world football.
Responsible for producing some of the greatest players in the world over the past 35 years, the Dutch have often lurched from one extreme to the other.
The failure of their famous "total football" teams of the 1970s to win a World Cup remains one of the sport's enduring mysteries. Recent generations of Dutch players have been just as erratic.
They were notable absentees from the 1982 and 1986 tournaments, before going on to win the European Championship in 1988 with a team boasting such talents as Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten.
But under the guidance of Van Basten, the Netherlands have been more consistent.
The Dutch were among the most impressive of qualifiers for Germany, collecting 32 points from a possible 36.
Two of their 10 wins were 2-0 victories over the world's second-ranked side, the Czech Republic, and the team finished unbeaten after 12 matches with 27 goals scored and three conceded.
The Dutch have strength throughout. Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar is on form, and Rafael van der Vaart pulls the strings in midfield and has gone from strength to strength since his move from Ajax to Hamburg where he has made a strong impression in the Bundesliga.
Although the defence and midfield look strong, the attack looks even more menacing. All opponents will be fully aware of the threat posed by Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben, and Robin van Persie and Jan Vennegor, of Hesselink, offer valuable options.
