2010 FIFA World Cup: Can the Netherlands Really Win the World Cup?

Who could have foreseen this Holland team knocking out Brazil?

I'm sure that now there are people who would swear blind that they always believed in "le Oranje," but I doubt that there were many people anywhere who truly thought deep down that the Dutch would win.

The Brazilians worked a couple of moments of class, but failed to carve out many openings, and they were forced to pay. One moment of madness by Julio Cesar and some truly shoddy defending from set pieces, alongside an inability to keep cool, spelt out the Brazilians defeat.

With Holland certain to be considered favourites in the next round, their route to the final looks easy, by the standards of a World Cup semifinal.

Here I'll analyse the Netherland's set-up and discern whether they have what it takes to win their elusive first World Cup after close shaves in 1974 and 1978.

Goalkeeper

Maarten Stekelenburg has been largely reliable in between the sticks for Holland. While he lacks the character and leadership of Edwin Van der Sar, he is nevertheless able. He might have done better with Robinho's shot, but his save on Kaka was top-draw. He is a decent keeper, and World Cups have been won with worse.

Defence

The Dutch defence is its weakest link, and might be considered susceptible.

Against Brazil, Andre Ooijer was forced to step in, and, even at 36, acquitted himself very well. Against teams who focus on him, his lack of pace might be a letdown. Captain and left back Giovanni Van Bronckhorst is another cause for concern at times, but, like Ooijer, did well against the Brazillian attack.

Expect European teams with better discipline to test this defence more than a slightly stagnant Brazil did. The likes of Ooijer and Everton man Johnny Heitinga are not world-class defenders, but solid and fairly average players, which the likes of Lionel Messi, Miroslav Klose, or Fernando Torres will make sweat.

The Dutch win, while impressive, went down to Brazilian deficiencies as well as "Oranje" efficiency and spirit.

Midfield

Excellent.

World-class players in Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder add real thrust to the attack, while Dirk Kuyt also keeps defenders busy with his industry. In Mark Van Bommel and Nigel De Jong, Holland has two strong enforcers, able to break up play and pass, but both are prone to rushes of blood to the head and must watch out in the high-pressure later games.

As a unit, the midfield works very well, with Gregory Van der Wiel getting up from defence to support Robben well. Sneijder's free midfield role suits him well, and the two enforcers go about their business with drive and determination.

Attack

On paper, the Dutch attack should be its most potent focal point, but both Robin van Persie and Klaas Jan Huntelaar have been disappointing after uninspiring seasons for the pair.

The Dutch attack has largely come from midfield, and Sneijder has added goals to the Netherlanders games in the face of the strikers impotency. If Holland is to be considered a true contender, then the misfiring pair must start to make chances count, because in a World Cup final you may only get one.  

Conclusions

The Dutch have an able team, Brazil can testify to that, but they are not impervious.

No one is—the Spanish, Argentines, and Germans all suffer from some defensive frailties, to some extent, while the other teams lack star power or all-round individual quality.

Brazil were disappointing today.

They lacked real team cohesion at times, and when their discipline went, their ability to carve open the Dutch midfield went with it. Make no mistake, the Netherlands will need to raise their game if they are to make it to the final, and hold pretensions of winning it.  

Ultimately this World Cup has been blown wide open, and the Netherlands might just be in the right place to take advantage. A relatively easy route to the final from here beckons, and with players' energy potentially conserved, Holland can make a real effort at winning the trophy that Johan Cruyff and Johnny Rep never could.