World Cup 2006 Group C Preview: Holland
Despite always starting international tournaments amongst the favourites, Holland have all too often flattered to deceive when it came to the crunch and football watchers in the Netherlands are trying to hold back their expectations this time around. Coach Marco Van Basten is in the middle of a rebuilding process with the national side and has targetted Euro 2008 as the proving ground for his squad of rising young Dutch stars, meaning though that World Cup 2006 is just a little too early to see their full potential.
A good blend of experience in Edwin Van Der Sar, enjoying some of the best performances of his career at Manchester United, and PSV’s Philip Cocu alongside young stars such as Rafael Van Der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder gives the Dutch squad some balance this time around while the adventurous Van Basten has made the gutsy decision to leave out some big names such as Edgar Davids and Roy Makaay.
Time will tell whether the former European Player of the Year winner’s squad selection is the right one but for a squad undergoing such fundamental changes, a quarter final finish would be acceptable, especially if it gives some of the younger players enough of a grounding to build on for Euro 2008.
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POSTED IN: Past World Cups
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