10 World Cup Questions: Netherlands

April 16th, 2010 | by: Daryl | View Comments

Chris and myself have been trying our best to profile each of the 32 teams that will compete at World Cup 2010, but our knowledge about each team is miniscule (or at least mine is anyway) when compared to that of our team bloggers.

If you’re unfamiliar with World Cup Blog, then allow me to explain: The blog you’re reading now is the front page, but the core of WCB is the multitude of team specific blogs, including one for each of the World Cup 2010 teams. The authors of these team blogs have forgotten more about their sides than I’ll ever know, so I decided to tap that knowledge by asking each of them a set of 10 questions.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be publishing the answers from our team bloggers and sharing their expert knowledge and opinions here on the front page. First up is Jan from the very popular Netherlands blog. His 10 answers are below, so read on to become an Oranje expert.

1. Who is your best player?
We have many “best players”, which is one of our strengths. Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder will most probably compete for this tag, but holding midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel might claim this title too. But who knows, maybe old hand Van Nistelrooy will finally claim his place at the highest level… Or will it be newcomer Eljero Elia?

2. What do you think of your coach?
Bert van Marwijk might not be the most inspiring coach the Dutch ever produced (amongst Cruyff, Hiddink, Van Gaal) but he seems to have the right profile for team manager. We try not to think about our 2002 campaign under Van Gaal… Van Marwijk is a decent man, doesn’t say or do silly things, is diplomatic and respectful to his players and is above all a realist. He might not discover new ways to play football or perform air-karate kicks along the touch line. He will never insult the media or be caught with his pants down somewhere. He won’t be the most adventurous coach, which is good because the Dutch would like to win a world cup this time, thank you very much….

3. What do you think of the Netherlands World Cup 2010 kits?
I can’t be bothered, really. I don’t care what they wear as long as it’s orange and as long as they win games. I did like the vintage WC2006 kits but other than that I am not fuzzed at all. I do like the blue socks, white shorts, orange shirts combination,

4. What’s your team’s biggest strength?
Our pass and move game combined with “total football”. Most of our players have tremendous technical skills and we are always looking forward, looking to create something. Another big strength – since recently – is that we can play as a team.

5. …and biggest weakness?
Our biggest strength is also our biggest weakness. We tend to rely on our creative skills to win games. When the going gets tough, we need to be willing and able to work and battle for a result and that’s where we let ourselves down regularly. Another typical Dutch issue is the Battle of the Ego’s. Infighting and power-struggles and all that jazz. Lastly, we tend to think we’re the champs already after two decent games…

6. If you could steal one player from any other World Cup 2010 team, then who would it be and why?
We wouldn’t. There would be the language barrier and…sorry…just kiddin’. But I don’t think we would steal a player… Maybe a central defender like John Terry. Our offensive players can compete with the best of the planet and so can our holding midfielders. Our defenders don’t have the international status of big name players, but their statistics are pretty good. So, we’ll stick to the lads we have.

7. Tell us one thing about your team that the rest of the world might not know…
Ah, where to start… The Dutch play in Orange due to the link to the Royal Family of Holland, who are named Van Oranje (of Orange). Our most successful and famous squad – the WC1974 squad – shouldn’t have qualified for the World Cup. We played our last qualification game against Belgium. Belgium scored a surefire goal but it was disallowed for off side. The replay clearly showed it wasn’t.

We missed a number of center backs due to injuries (Drost, Israel, Laseroms, Hulshof, Mansveld) so coach Michels had to improvise. Young midfielder Arie Haan was put libero and debutant Rijsbergen became stopper. The risk of these two young players was compensated by goalie Jan Jongbloed, a very fast runner and good with his feet. He essentially played libero.

Johan Cruyff didn’t go to the World Cup 1978 in Argentina. The rumor was that Danny – his wife – was jealous and didn’t want another Bild-swimming pool incident and told Johan not to go. Recently, Johan disclosed information how right before the WC, some Dutch burglar broke into JC’s house with a gun, trying to rob the Cruyffs. He tied Danny up and had JC at gunpoint. Some hero-stunt got them out of there but Johan decided not to leave Danny alone after that.

8. What would you consider success/failure for your team at World Cup 2010?
I personally believe we need to go for gold. But if we are ousted at quarter final level after a great game against a better opponent, I wouldn’t be too sad. If we get to the semis with luck I might be less impressed. But all in all, I want them to win it with great football.

9. What are you most exited about at World Cup 2010?
Just the mere fact that it’s on :-). Waited 4 years for it. I also believe Holland has a squad that could win it.

10. Who do you think will win World Cup 2010?
The obvious answer is Holland or Spain. England has a good squad too. Germany is always a contender. And then there’s the South Americans… Brazil and Argentina. The latter have Messi, but they also have Maradona. And who knows, one of the African nations may get far this time around.

- More from Jan on Netherlands World Cup Blog.