The Dutch are accustomed to advancing far in major tournaments only to lose without taking the top prize.
But with a team full of attacking flair, the Netherlands will be hoping to repeat its victory of almost a quarter-century ago at Euro 1988.
Bayern Munich’s Holland winger Arjen Robben knows how it feels being close to football glory. This year he missed a spot kick during his club’s decisive Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, as well as an extra-time penalty against Chelsea in the Champions League final.
Robben also failed to convert the Netherlands’ best chance against Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in South Africa, which it went on to lose.
Yet the Dutch are confident that this is their year, despite three of the teams in Euro 2012 Group B – the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal – being ranked in the top five in the world.
Preparations took a hit on May 26, when the Dutch team lost 2-1 to Bulgaria, which didn’t qualify for Euro 2012. But it bounced back against Slovakia 2-0 on May 30.
Dutch TV soccer host Joep Schreuder expects Robben to quickly erase the previous season’s penalty lapses and fire the team to the July 1 final in Kyiv. “Robben’s failure will have no effect on the Dutch team’s preparation,” said Schreuder. “He wants only one thing for the squad and that is to take the title to Amsterdam.”
The Oranje certainly have continuity going into the competition boasting much of the same squad that started in the 2010 World Cup finals aside from retired Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
On May 27, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk announced a final squad of familiar faces in striker Robin van Persie, who scored 41 goals in 53 appearances for Arsenal. He’s supported by red hot Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the player TV host Schreuder said to watch for, and the squad’s leading scorer in the qualifying stage with 12 goals. After Robben, Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder, who is coming off a lackluster season with Inter Milan, will provide firepower on the wings.
Mark von Bommel and Nigel de Jong will need to be formidable in defensive midfield to protect what Schreuder describes as the team’s weakest line. Still, the Dutch have depth in PSV Eindhoven defenders Jetro Willems, an 18-year-old prodigy and 33-year-old Wilfred Bouma, who last appeared in an Oranje shirt four years ago.
Portugal, not second-ranked Germany or 10th-ranked Denmark, poses the biggest threat to Holland, said Schreuder.
“Holland has never played well against the defensive Portugal, but we should have advanced by then when we play them,” said Schreuder of the squad’s last group stage opponent. Expectations are high at home. A poll by De Telegraaf of over 100,000 readers found that 70 percent believe the Dutch can win the Euro, while 16 per cent voted for Germany and nine percent for holders Spain.
“You can lose the final, as Holland knows very well. This team with all their experience and quality needs to be in the last two or four. Anything less will be very disappointing,” said Schreuder.
Head coach – Bert van Marwijk
Captain – Mark van Bommel
Star Player – Arjen Robben
Nickname – Oranje
FIFA world ranking – 4
Best World Cup result – Runners-up in 2010, 1978, 1974
Best European championship – Winners in 1988
Base for Euro 2012 – Krakow, Poland
Games in Euro 2012 Group B – Denmark (June 9, Kharkiv); Germany (June 13, Kharkiv); Portugal (June 17, Kharkiv)
Games in Ukraine
Donetsk
June 11 – France-England (Group D)
June 15 – Ukraine-France (Group D)
June 19 – England-Ukraine (Group D)
June 23 – Quarterfinal
June 27 – Semifinal
Kharkiv
June 9 – Netherlands-Denmark (Group B)
June 13 – Netherlands-Germany (Group B)
June 17 – Portugal-Netherlands (Group B)
Kyiv
June 11 – Ukraine-Sweden (Group D)
June 15 – Sweden-England (Group D)
June 19 – Sweden-France (Group D)
June 24 – Quarterfinal
July 1 – Final
Lviv
June 9 – Germany-Portugal (Group B)
June 13 – Denmark-Portugal (Group B)
June 17 – Denmark-Germany (Group B)
Kyiv Post staff writer Mark Rachkevych can be reached at [email protected].
