ARJEN ROBBEN

Article by Suresh Iyer

The Dutch showed tremendous form in the qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2010 that saw them run away with all the eight matches they played.Despite their obvious flair, the Dutch have not done justice, in terms of championships won. This raises a doubt as to their ability to withstand the pressures of a big stage such as FIFA World Cup 2010.More than 20 years have elapsed since they won a major championship. The Euro 88 trophy was the last one. They had a golden run in the 1970s, when they had 3 Euro cups in a row, followed by consecutive finals in 1974 and 1978 World Cups. That was the era of the concept of Total Football that the Dutch invented, which involved all players attacking and all defending simultaneously, depending on the situation.So confident were the Dutch of their victory, in 1974, that the Dutch government are said to have printed $ 100,000 worth of postage stamps proclaiming their team as World Champions, only to have to burn them all, after the loss to Germany.This time round, Coach Van Marwijk has a wealth of choices, chief among them being defenders, Joris Mathijsen and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, and Mark van Bommel who can switch from defence to midfield, on demand.Currently ranked 3rd by FIFA, they are expected to top their group B, and probably meet and beat Paraguay, in the round of 16, to run into Brazil in the quarter-final. That should be a real challenge, considering that the Dutch went down to USA in a recent friendly.Denmark actually beat the Netherlands in Euro 92, but on penalties, after a 2-2 stalemate, in regulation time. Cameroon are expected to put up a fight, though in Dirk Kyut, Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch have a potent attack.

About the Author

For the latest sports gossip and news you will not find anywhere else on the Internet, and to download a FREE eBook on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, click http://www.cricinfosite.com

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.