Any football expert will tell you that the way the Netherlands played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final was a complete departure from the philosophy and tradition of that country - an aberration that was the antithesis of a style that has always involved playing the beautiful game the right way.
For all the Total Football of yesteryear though, the Dutch much like England, don’t have a lot to show for their efforts, winning just one major tournament to date. That was the 1988 European Championship, and when Bert van Marwijk’s side came up short in South Africa it was the third time Holland had tasted defeat on the grandest stage in the biggest match in world football.
Disappointment was quickly put behind them however, and they qualified for Euro 2012 with ease. Home and hosed by the final game against Sweden, the Netherlands fielded an understrength side which allowed their Scandinavian opponents to book their place at the finals by virtue of being the best runners up. Holland have four scheduled friendlies to warm up in before the tournament gets underway and selection choices need to be assessed.
A tale of two strikers
Who spearheads the Dutch attack is one of those nice problems to have from the coach’s point of view. Klass-Jan Huntelaar and Robin van Persie are the leading candidates, both having scored fifteen goals in their respective leagues this season. Their journeys since leaving Holland could not be more different though.
Whilst van Persie has stayed resolutely loyal to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, despite winning just one FA Cup medal with the Gunners, Huntelaar has taken time to find a home with Bundesliga side Schalke. Spells at Real Madrid and AC Milan didn’t work out, but he bounced back from this to top score in Euro 2012 qualifying netting a dozen times.
Van Persie’s Clockwork Orange record is inferior to Huntelaar’s, but the Arsenal star’s lethal form in 2011 is a pressing claim. Both these players’ leagues carry the same weight in European Golden Boot’s coefficient, leaving their returns equally impressive. Bert van Marwijk simply needs to give both men an audition and whoever performs best should get the nod.
Supporting artists
It’s often surprised me we haven’t heard the Frank Lampard/Steven Gerrard can’t play together argument in reference to Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder. The two attacking midfield players haven’t lined up alongside one another for the Clockwork Orange in a competitive match since the 5-3 win over Hungary in March.
Of course both men are certain to go to Poland and Ukraine, but the midfield could lack balance, meaning van der Vaart may have to play in the front three. A wide berth certainly seems up for grabs in the XI at the minute with Eljero Elia unable to get into Juventus’s team, Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben injured and Ryan Babel’s unimpressive form at Hoffenheim.
The attack is supplemented by the industry of Dirk Kuyt. The Liverpool man will be the senior player up top at 31. PSV pair Georginio Wijnaldum and Kevin Strootman find themselves somewhat on the fringes, but could well make the squad as backup. Ibrahim Afellay may get more chances at Barcelona, profiting from David Villa’s leg break at the World Club Championship. Dutch footballer of the year Theo Janssen could be another option.
Captain Mark van Bommel’s last hurrah will come at Euro 2012. One of the dirtiest players in the game, he has excelled at his ugly job in the holding role for a long time. Van Marwijk may be somewhat concerned by the lack of football fellow anchor Nigel de Jong is getting at Manchester City though. Stijn Schaars and Demy de Zeeuw have had enough exposure to cover sufficiently here.
Dutch defence leaves a lot to be desired
The last generation of the Clockwork Orange’s rear guard was star-studded. A back four of Michael Reiziger, Frank de Boer, Jaap Stam and Giovanni van Bronckhorst had done it all in club football. Their successors to be quite honest are very ordinary, evidenced by the fact twice in qualifying the Dutch conceded three goals.
Everton’s Johnny Heitinga and Joris Mathijsen are an experienced partnership at centre half, but lack pace. Considering former Blackburn player Andre Ooijer was also missing that and played so often, van Marwijk’s current options are the lesser of two evils. The likes of Chelsea’s Jeffrey Bruma (on loan at Hamburg), Hedwiges Maduro and Ron Vlaar of Feyenoord are all in contention to deputize.
Versatility may have been a cornerstone of Total Football, but it is rarely seen in the Dutch setup today as everyone looks to nail down their spot. Ex-Chelsea player Khalid Boulahrouz is the one notable exception as he is adept in a variety of positions. Heitinga will tell you he has been deployed at right back and in midfield, but the issue outlined above makes that tactic unwise.
For me, van Marwijk’s biggest problem is on the flanks of his defence. Gregroy van der Wiel has no competition pushing him on the right and who plays on the opposite side is frankly wide open. One time Celtic loanee Edson Braafheid has the number three jersey at the minute, but is just one of four candidates.
Between now and the summer there are opportunities for maverick Royston Drenthe, AC Milan’s Urby Emanuelson and Erik Peters to stake their claims. The former is on loan at Everton from Real Madrid and a good winter for the pacy player may pay dividends.
Goalkeepers a good problem to have
No Clockwork Orange custodian could have hoped to get past Edwin van der Sar, but he hung up his gloves and you started to wonder if his boots could be filled. Maarten Stekelenburg stepped up from his role of understudy to have an impressive World Cup, but now finds himself pressed hard by two Premier League stoppers.
The Dutch number one signed for Roma over the summer and has an ageing defence in front of him that has conceded as many as the forwards have scored up the other end in Serie A. Meanwhile Tim Krul and Michel Vorm have been getting rave reviews at Newcastle and Swansea, the latter keeping an impressive eight clean sheets. Again here van Marwijk should cap all his goalies and give them each ninety minutes in which they can show him what they can do.
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