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EURO 2012 team preview: Netherlands

After narrowly losing the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Netherlands will hope to go one step further at EURO 2012, and emulate the class of ’88, writes Jerry Rush.
De Oranje – expect to see seas of orange at EURO 2012, as the Dutch fans follow their beloved team (image: Dan Kamminga via wiki media)

FIFA World ranking:

4th

Group opponents:

Group B:

v. Denmark – June 9 – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv

v. Germany – June 13 – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv

v. Portugal – June 17 – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv

The road to the championship:

The Oranje qualified for the final 16 with ease, winning 9 out their 10 possible matches in group E, including an 11-0 drubbing of San Marino. They had the best goal difference in their group at +29: conceding only 8 goals whilst putting 37 into the back of the net, thanks to their wealth of brilliant attacking players. Klass-Jan Huntelaar was brilliant in the qualifying stages – scoring 12 times, 5 more than the next best player in Mikael Forrsel, whilst Dirk Kuyt and Robin Van-Persie had 6 a piece. With Wesley Sneijder and Ibrahim Affelay pulling the strings in midfield, as well as the tricky Arjen Robben and Eljero Elia on the wings, the Dutch were far too strong and have to be considered as a favourite to take out the tournament.

Past Success:

Champions: 1988

 Star Players:

Robin Van Persie – With Robin Van-Persie and Arjen Robben up front, the Dutch have two world class players that can win games off their own boot. Van-Persie has enjoyed a career best season at Arsenal, dispatching 30 goals in clinical fashion, prompting the “he scores when he wants” chant to become synonymous with his name. Van Persie also won this year’s highly acclaimed Football Writers Player of the Year award, recognizing the striker as the best player in this season’s Premier League, capping off his brilliant year.

Arjen Robben – when fit, Robben has the power & pace to devastate any defence; as he’s shown all season at Bayern Munich – with 12 goals and 5 assists from his 24 starts. The skilful Winger is a constant threat with his ability to take on defenders at the drop of a hat and deliver wicked crosses from the by-line. Despite having his doubters throughout his career, Robben has found consistency in the Bundesliga and will no doubt hope to carry his form into the Euro and be the match winner for his country.

Player to watch out for:

Klass-Jan Huntelaar – has been prolific in every sense of the word this season, scoring an impressive 12 goals in the qualifying stages, as well as slotting 29 for Schalke in the Bundesliga this season – the league’s best. The 28-year-old striker only needs an opportunity for his country to shine, but he may be used as a substitute; with Van Persie the preferred option as the lone striker with their 4-2-3-1 formation. Blessed with brilliant athleticism and sense for goal, Huntelaar is as good as any inside the penalty box and when given a chance, can be deadly.

Coach:

Bert van Marwijk – Since overtaking Marco van Basten in 2008, van Marwijk has enjoyed success as the national coach, taking the Oranje all the way to the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they lost against Spain 1-0, thanks to an Andreas Iniesta strike in extra time. Van Marwijk has an attractive coaching resume, which included a stint at Borussia Dortmund, but it was at Feyenoord where he had his best success: winning the UEFA cup in 2002 and KNVB cup in 2007. With an almost flawless qualifying campaign, van Marwijk was rewarded with a four-year contract extension until the summer of 2016, including the 2014 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2016.

Classic EURO moment:

EURO 1988 Final:

 How can you go past the 1988 EURO final against the USSR, where the Netherlands won 2-0 and claimed their first ever EURO championship?  The classic moment fell in the 54th minute where Marco van Basten volleyed home a brilliant goal from a high cross, sent in by Arnold Muhren. On an impossible angle, van Basten couldn’t have hit it any sweeter, hitting a dipping volley into the far corner that sent Munich’s Olympiastadion into a frenzy, and the Dutch on to lift the Henri Delaunay trophy.

Prediction:   The Netherlands has to be considered as one of the favourites to win the tournament this year. Reaching the final will be the very minimum of its expectations. They face a tough fixture, drawing Portugal and Germany alongside Denmark in one of two “the groups of death”. Blessed with such a talented crop of individuals, it will be up to van Marwijk to see if he can gel the team together and deliver the team chemistry that brings a second EURO title to the nation.

Jeremy Rush is a third-year Media Studies student at La Trobe University
upstart is previewing each of the final teams in the lead up to the EURO 2012.  Monday’s team: Denmark.

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