Portugal vs. Netherlands: Which Team Has the Brighter World Cup Hopes Right Now?

They are two of modern football's heavy hitters.

Both the Netherlands (No. 5) and Portugal (No. 7) are among the top 10 sides in the world according to FIFA's ranking system. 

Since the turn of the century, each team has proven to be a force to be respected in major tournaments.

The Dutch have made two European Championship semi-finals since 2000 and advanced to the World Cup final in 2010 in South Africa, where they were edged in extra time by Spain.

Portugal, in the same period, have never failed to make it into the knockout stages of the European Championships, finishing fourth, fifth, second and third in the last four editions of that tournament.

They also made it to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.

Despite boasting an impressive record in recent tournaments, neither Portugal nor the Netherlands have managed to capitalize on their consistently strong playing rosters by going all the way in a major championship.

The Netherlands famously won Euro 1988 with a tremendous team containing the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, but they have gone trophy-less since.

The Portuguese, meanwhile, have never won the ultimate prize at a senior international tournament.

So which of these two proven big guns has the best chance of ending their painful barren spell and lifting the World Cup trophy in Brazil in 2014?

The international friendly between the teams on Wednesday will give an indication of how each is progressing less than a year out from the World Cup.

Let's take a look at the squads.

The Netherlands

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Kenneth Vermeer (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City).

Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Joris Mathijsen (Feyenoord), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Marco van Ginkel (Chelsea), Jonathan De Guzman (Swansea City), Kevin Strootman (AS Roma), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger SV), Stijn Schaars (PSV), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV).

Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahçe), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Arjen Robben (Bayern München), Ruben Schaken (Feyenoord).

Portugal

Goalkeepers: Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga) Rui Patrício (Sporting). 

Defenders: João Pereira (Valencia), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Sílvio (Benfica), Pepe (Real Madrid), Neto (Zenit).

Midfielders: Raul Meireles (Fenerbahçe), João Moutinho (Mónaco), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), Custódio (Braga), Rúben Amorim (Braga), Rúben Micael (Braga)

Forwards: Nani (Manchester United), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg), Hélder Postiga (Zaragoza), Danny (Zenit), Nélson Oliveira (Rennes).

With the force of nature that is Cristiano Ronaldo and world-class talents like Joao Moutinho and Pepe in their lineup, Portugal have the firepower to trouble any team in the world.

The Netherlands can count on several players from the very top shelf themselves, such as Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

These are the types of footballers who can prove the difference between the good and the great sides at the business end of major championships. In that regard, then, both the Netherlands and Portugal are well positioned to have a genuine crack at glory in Brazil.

Even more crucial than possessing a smattering of game-breakers, however, is banking on a sturdy team spirit and collective determination.

In that respect, the Dutch have a distinct advantage.

A back-to-the-wall mentality played a huge part in the Netherlands reaching the World Cup final in South Africa, but that team ethos was clearly missing as the side flopped at Euro 2012. 

National team coach Louis van Gaal has galvanized the team since, though, and they now top their qualifying group with a perfect record of six wins from six. A reflection of this improved attitude is a sturdier defense; the Netherlands have conceded just three goals in their last 10 matches.

Portugal also top their group, but their progress until now has been far less convincing than the Dutch.

Ronaldo and Co. came away with a vital win against Russia in their last outing to take the lead in Group F. But they draw against Israel and Northern Ireland, and an earlier loss to Russia means they could soon be overtaken by the Russians, who have two games in hand on them, and Israel, who have played one less.

Of just as much concern to coach Paulo Bento must be the lethargic, jilted nature of so many of his team's displays.

When Ronaldo fails to fire, which happens far more often when he is decked out in burgundy than it does when he's wearing the white of Real Madrid, the whole side's attacking threat is severely blunted.

An over-reliance on the mercurial talents of Cristiano is the main reason Portugal are struggling to qualify for Brazil 2014. It is the same reason that, if they do make it, they will be less of a threat to the top sides than the more harmonious, more focused Dutch outfit.