Three times in the past the brilliant Dutch team in 1974, 1978 & 2010 came at handshaking distance of lifting the most coveted trophy – the world cup. But somehow it stayed out of their reach. It will not be easy at all for them in Brazil to go very far .They are in a very difficult group having current champions Spain, difficult South American team Chile and team of great mental toughness Australia. Even if Holland advances from the group they may find favorite Brazil on their home soil in the group of 16. Getting better of Brazil in Brazil may be well beyond them. Yet it will be unkind to write off high quality Dutch team just like that. They have lot of potentials and with a bit of luck can turn the table on some favorites like what happened at South Africa in 2010.

The Dutch team of 1970s presented the world the total football concept. The brilliant team of Johan Cruyff of 1974 not winning the cup was a poetic injustice.  The gritty and steady Germans inspired by Franz Beckenbaur got better of them. Goal Keeper Sepp Maier made some acrobatic saves in that final of West Germany winning 2-1. In 1978 it was peerless Argentina that deprived Holland. A brilliant Spain team overcame the spirited Holland in the final of 2010. 

Football analysts won’t rate Holland among the favorites this time. But Captain Robin Van Persie and manager Louis Van Gaal has high hopes in the young squad to fight to the last with never say die attitude. However, in the very first match of the group will see the finalists of 2010 Spain and Holland on 14th June at Arena Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador.

Build UP to World Cup 2014

After a disastrous EURO 2012, in which Bert Van Marwijk’s Holland team lost all three of their group games, the Dutch have bounced back in style. They qualified for the World Cup after winning nine and drawing one of their 10 group games and will be desperate to put the nightmare of 2012 behind them.

The failure at EURO 2012 wasn’t an anticipated decline. Coming off the back of a superb World Cup in 2010, many expected the team to go one better in their more localized major tournament. But the Dutch crumbled both on and off the pitch. On the pitch in group games against Germany, Portugal and Denmark; off the pitch as a fractious, volatile atmosphere developed within the squad.

But that is in the past, and as they head towards the finals, the squad as a whole look to be in very good shape. Louis Van Gaal has ushered out a chunk of the 2010 squad and has stumbled upon an encouraging blend of established squad members and blossoming youngsters. It means that world-class players like Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben still remain key figures, but they are supported by lesser-known burgeoning talents like Kevin Strootman, Bruno Martins-Indi and Jordy Clasie.

Despite their rip-roaring qualifying performances, there is a sense that this tournament might be too much too soon for this redeveloping outfit. The defence – whilst it is full of highly rated younger players – is crying out for an authoritative, experienced head. That could hinder them in the big, big pressure games but with players of the caliber of Robben and Van Persie performing at their very best, the Oranje have it in them to beat anyone on their day.

For all his obvious talent, Robben was a player who’d developed a reputation as something of a ‘bottler’ not too long ago. He missed a penalty that could have won the Champions League for Bayern and he missed a one-on-one that could have won the World Cup for his country.

But last season, he made those questioning his mental strength look a little silly. The Bayern flyer scored in both legs of the Champions League semifinal against Barcelona before bagging the winning goal in the final late-on against Borussia Dortmund. Next summer, he will be itching to show he can perform on the biggest stage of them all and eradicate the heartache of 2010’s final defeat.

Since the last World Cup, Robben has made big improvements to his game. Primarily, he has become a selfless worker for the team, a trait instilled in him by former Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes. As one of the senior members of this Dutch squad, it will be up to the rampaging winger to set an example to the younger players and with his new found work-rate and indisputable quality; he certainly has it in him to do so at the 2014 World Cup.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal names World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Jeroen Zoet (PSV)

Defenders: Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Karim Rekik (PSV), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax)

Midfielders: Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord)

Forwards: Quincy Promes (Twente), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Jean-Paul Boetius (Feyenoord), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Memphis Depay (PSV)

Feyenoord youngster Clasie could be given a chance in the centre of midfield. The 22-year-old is a very special talent with excellent passing ability and is a very strong tackler as well. If the 5’ 7” central midfielder gets a chance in the team, he will impress more than a few spectators and it will see the speculation surrounding his future increase even more as a move away from Holland looks likely this summer. Van Gaal’s new formation should accommodate Sneijder perfectly. With two supporting midfielders and two up front, it will allow him to link up well with Van Persie and Robben and create a lot of chances for the Netherlands.

Will there be a Dutch festival in Brazil? Perhaps not. With Spain, Chile and Australia in the group, they have a very tough start to the competition. Finishing second to Spain in the group will likely set up a second round tie with Brazil which will be a test beyond this young Netherlands squad. This is very much a squad that will develop and have a better chance in future tournaments than it will this summer.

BDST: 1040 HRS, MAY 20, 2014