2010 FIFA World Cup: What Holland Needs To Do To Win the World Cup

The World Cup is finally upon us, and with it, the time to stop talking and start watching is here.

No more gossip, no more fanboys talking (fingers crossed), and no more bragging. This is the time were the world sits and watches the most famous event in sports history.

It's safe to say that no matter who wins the World Cup this year, it's not going to be free from controversy. It's not as if the Italians won 2006 without a decision or two going their way, or many nations before them for that matter.

Nevertheless, the biggest spectacle on the planet is sure to win the hearts of many fans, and to break the hearts of many, many more.

The Netherlands, most famously known as the greatest footballing nation to never have won the World Cup, is going to be looking to end their curse once and for all.

Here are the main points that the Flying Dutchmen need to consider if they are to win the World Cup.

Mental Strength:

Winning the World Cup isn't for the faint of heart. It is one of the hardest things a footballer can ever achieve in his career, and that is mainly because of the mental pressure that the players face.

You aren't exactly playing for just a club, you're representing your nation, your countrymen are all counting on you, waiting for you to give them the right to scream from the top of their lungs in celebration.

The Dutch have a bad history of choking on the biggest stages in football.

When one thing goes badly, they naturally expect more to follow despite their ability to crush their rivals when on form.

The World Cup stipulates that you put it all on the line, and that's not just talking about body and soul. It's about having the mental strength needed to overcome the obstacles in your way.

The Dutchmen have always been thinkers, planning their every move on the pitch. Cruyff, Bergkamp and Van Basten all come to mind, and the words "Technique" and "Class" are usually used to define the Dutchmen's style of play.

However, when you are playing in an event that only comes once every four years and you have a nation's dreams on your shoulders, the more you think about it, the more likely it is that you will choke.

It's very rare to see the Dutchmen making a miraculous comeback, they don't have the history that the Germans have when it comes to never giving up, something that has helped Germany many times on their quests for trophies.

Holland needs mental strength if they are to overcome tournament's favorites Spain, Brazil and England.

When the Flying Dutchmen find themselves one goal down with three minutes to go against Spain, with the European champions playing defensive, they cannot panic. They need to stay calm and try not to penetrate in a hurry because they are thinking about that final whistle coming too soon.

Here is where mental strength comes to mind.

Defence:

The Netherland's biggest weakness, as in years past, is their defence.

While Holland has the likes of Van Persie, Robben, Van Der Vaart and Sneijder in attack, they have Mathijsen, Khaled Boulahrouz and Ooijer in defence. They also have a void in goal that they've failed to fill since Van Der Sar retired. Stekelnburg isn't exactly a rock like Iker Casillas for Spain or GiGi Buffon for Italy.

There is no way to change who you have as a defender, but the only strategy that the Dutch can use to avoid conceding is by keeping possession of the ball and make sure not to get caught on the counter attacks.

Mathijsen and Ooijer aren't fast at all, especially Ooijer who turns 36 next month. Those two getting caught on the counter can get Holland in trouble and are already being targeted as weak links by the other teams.

It's safe to say that out of all the national teams playing with the intention of winning the World Cup, Holland have the weakest defence among the elites, so they will need luck on their side if they are to go all the way.

Penalties:

The nightmare for Dutch players, penalties have always been Holland's Achilles heel.

Holland got eliminated from the semi-final of both the World Cup 1998 and EURO 2000 on penalties, it's safe to say that they might have played France on both occasions had they won both shoot-outs.

This year however, the Netherlands should not fear penalties, for they have some of the greatest dead ball specialists in World Football.

Van Persie, Robben, Van Der Vaart, and Sneijder are all free-kick and penalty kick specialists, having them all included in a penalty shoot out will make a world of difference.

On the other side of the equation, Stekelenburg will have to prove his worth. Not all Dutchmen are penalty kick specialists, and he will have to try and get some saves so that the penalty shootout ends before it goes too deep, otherwise things might not look good for Holland. 

Plan B:

Finally, the most important thing Holland needs to put into consideration is to have a plan B.

After witnessing the demolition of Italy, France and Romania in EURO 2008, Holland were clear favorites. The thought of them losing to Portugal, Spain and Germany seemed like a distant dream, but all it took was a Russia side that studied the way the Dutch played football and countered it with brilliance.

That day, Holland were paralyzed. They did not have a back-up plan.

Impudence cost the Netherlands the chance to become European Champions for the second time in their history.

While many fans blamed Van Basten for not playing Arjen Robben, it wasn't exactly going to be a picnic for him to do what Van Persie, Sneijder and Van Der Vaart failed to do that day, the Dutch kept passing the ball aimlessly and were unable to penetrate the Russians defences.

And against Portugal in 2006, the infamous battle of Nuremberg, where the Netherlands and Portugal made history in the worst way possible. Sixteen yellow cards and four red cards in a single game, the most in any International tournament in FIFA history.

The Dutch players need to stay focused, and have a plan B. They must never get carried away like they did in 2006, regardless of who started things first, or else will face a heart breaking elimination. The 2006 elimination was the worst way to get eliminated for any nation, especially one without a history of violence on the pitch.

Conclusion:

Many critics admire the Netherlands' attacking power and their style of play, their approach to the game is wonderful, and their skill is magnificent.

But it's their defence that always puts them under the spotlight, and this year it might be no different. That's not to say that Holland's chances are weak, they have what it takes to out score the teams they face.

Holland needs to play to their strength and realize their true potential, not once in the past decade have we seen them give it their all.

Once they do however, maybe the world can finally see Oranje crowned World Champions.