Style, Precision and Unrelenting Offense: A Dutch World Cup Preview

Since first emerging on the international scene at the 1974 World Cup, the Dutch have thrilled the world with their sometimes cavalier but always attacking approach.

Standing on the precipice of South Africa and its beckoning opportunity, Oranje will once again look to a timeless maxim: “A good offense is the best defense.”

Breezing through qualification with an ease that belies their historically self-destructive nature, the Netherlands went a European-best undefeated 8-0-0 against Iceland, Macedonia, Norway and Scotland.

SCHEDULE

Denmark: June 14

Japan: June 19

Cameroon: June 24

After earning a No. 1 seed thanks in part to their unmatched success in qualifying, Holland was rewarded by drawing a favorable group.

Matched up against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon, the prospects of qualifying for the knockout stages are quite good, even for the perpetually anxious Dutch fan-base.

Facing Denmark in their opening game on June 14^th , coach Bert van Marwijk will be looking to set the tone right away against a deceptively tough Danish squad.

The Japanese pose less of a threat, having struggled to qualify against the likes of Bahrain and Uzbekistan.

The final game against Cameroon will be a charged affair, as the native African side will be looking to advance in the very first World Cup ever held on their continent.

Though they may have the best overall team in the group, the Dutch will have to contain its best player: Samuel Eto.

The Cameroonian native has gone from strength to strength at the club level (first Barcelona and now Inter Milan) and will enter the tournament as one of the world’s hottest strikers.

Thwarting the prolific Eto will be job No. 1 for the Dutch defense.

KEY PLAYERS

As the fulcrum of Holland’s attack, center forward Robin Van Persie’s recovery from an injury he sustained in a friendly last fall is the question on everyone’s lips.

If the clever Arsenal man is firing at the same velocity that he had been at this past autumn, then Holland will possess one of the most formidable attacks in the tournament.

If he isn’t, then the door swings wide open towards a number of possibly fatal question marks (i.e. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.)

Another player who figures to play a prominent role in Holland’s World Cup fate is often outspoken playmaker, Wesley Sneijder.

After being seen as persona non grata at Real Madrid following the entrance of Ronaldo, Kaka and the other new “Galacticos,” Sneijder was sold like a used car to Inter Milan.

On arrival, he was immediately rejuvenated by Jose Mourinho, and made his detractors at the Bernabeu rue his departure with a master class performance against rivals Barcelona in the Champions League.

Continuing this good form will be critical to the Dutch, as they are a side predicated around passing precision.

Sneijder embodies a great strength for Holland: their attacking midfield.

With the likes of Sneijder, Rafael Vander Vaart and Arjen Robben marauding forward from the midfield, Holland will be a constant threat from deep.

Defensively, the Dutch leave something to be desired.

Never a strong point, this year’s crop of defenders looks particularly anonymous. Their highest profile defender (Giovanni Van Bronckhorst) is getting a little long in the tooth and is certainly not capable of shouldering the brunt of the defensive duties.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

True to the spirit of “Total Football” espoused by their illustrious forerunners (Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten to name a few), Holland appear committed to fielding a versatile squad while linking passes and monopolizing possession.

Having converted from their traditional 4-3-3 to a more contemporary 4-2-3-1, coach van Marwijk can now incorporate three attacking midfielders, and not lose the balance in his team.

This has come at the expense of the more experienced but static striker, Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Of course if Van Persie can prove that he’s fit, that won’t matter. With Van Persie’s movement upfront and the buccaneering attacks of the midfield behind him, Holland can be truly dynamic going forward.

The inherent weakness in any Dutch side has always been their ability to defend.

This pattern is particularly emphasized in the 2010 squad.

Not only do they lack a defensive leader, but many of their current defenders are either too young or too old. There is no identity in the backline.

Perhaps this will put the charge in the Dutch attack though, since they know that winning 1-0 is not an option against elite opposition.

IT WOULD BE A GREAT WORLD CUP IF…

In true Dutch fashion, the fans of Clockwork Orange will dream the impossible dream: winning their first ever World Cup.

Having been so close on so many occasions, Holland will once again look to overcome their timeless moniker of being “glorious failures.”

Yet, as optimistic as the Dutch might be, I’m sure there are many who would be content with a semifinal exit against worthy opposition (as long as it isn’t on penalties).

IT WOULD BE A DISASTER IF…

They fail to advance past their group (obviously).

Yet it’s not a foregone conclusion that they will advance.

In their bizarre and frustrating history, Holland has proven itself perfectly capable of tripping over even the shortest of hurdles (even failing to qualify in 2002).

So it’s not a leap of faith to envision a nightmare scenario, which in this case probably means losing to Japan and Cameroon followed by an early exit.

MY PREDICTION

There are so many variables (as ever) involved with predicting the Dutch World Cup experience, but there are a few certainties.

First, they’re defense will inevitably let them down. This might come in the first round or the final.

Such is the enigma of Dutch soccer that the range in which this could happen is so broad.

The second certainty is that one of their many attacking talents will bag a candidate for “goal of the tournament.”

And lastly, Nigel De Jong and Mark Van Bommel will definitely miss at least a game each due to disciplinary action.

As they always do, Holland will attract neutral fans with their style and numerous idiosyncrasies.

Perhaps in 2010 though, they might actually find some clutch goals and defense to attract some silverware too.