Netherlands quest to win Football World Cup with Robin Van Persie
After a perfect qualification phase, expectations are very high among fans of the Netherlands. Currently 3rd in the FIFA rankings but Netherlands is only ranked 7th favorite to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Why is that?
''We are not going to South Africa to participate, we are going to win''. That is the winning attitude that the Netherlands have at the eve of the World Cup. The return of Robin Van Persie from a long-term injury can only make Oranje coach Bert Van Marwijk happy.The Arsenal striker has been declared fit and could be an important factor in the Netherlands quest to finally win a World Cup, in a soccer crazed country.
Bert Van Marwijk knows that one of the challenges that his team will face will be to cool down the high expectation around the team. The Netherlands are the only team to have qualified to the World Cup with a perfect record, winning all of its games. By winning all 8 games against Norway, Scotland, Macedonia and Iceland, the Netherlands jumped to the 3rd spot in the FIFA World rankings.
Bookmakers are not giving much credit to the Oranje. The Netherlands odds to win the World Cup are at 17 to 1. This number reflects the main challenges that surrounds the team: their dependence on a trio of players that are consistently excellent..when they play. The injury records for Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder speak for themselves. Still, the talent is there and so is the potential.
Van Marwijk made few changes when he took over the Netherlands. That same team that crushed Italy 3-0 and France 4-1 at Euro 2008 but lost in the quarter finals against Guus Hiddink's Russia. The main changes have been Martin Stekelenburg replacing Edwin van der Sar, who retired from international play, and the return of Mark van Bommel with the Orange after a clash with previous coach Marco Van Basten.
The presence of Van Bommel, usually playing alongside the excellent Nigel de Jong, reinforces the defensive shield in front of the defense. But Stekelenburg is still subpar compared to the excellent Edwin van der Sar. The central defense is composed of Joris Mathijsen and Johnny Heitinga. The duo is pretty solide and are able to give precise passes to start an attack. The young Gregory van der Wiel is impressive in the right back position and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst is still the first choice in the left back position, due mostly to a lack of competition for the spot.
Dirk Kuyt and Wesley Sneijder play the wings in the 4-3-3 formation, with Sneijder having an excellent season with Inter Milan. The Netherlands odds to finish first of their group are at 1.75. They will play Denmark, Cameroon and Japan. Their next opponents will probably Paraguay or Slovakia, a good draw but it is the World Cup, anything can happen.
A berth to the quarter final is the minimum requirement set by this Netherlands team, even though Van Marwijk sees further. '' We are not going to South Africa to just participate; we are going there to win''. This Holland team does not look like any other past Holland team for another reason. The coach has put in a lot of work to get rid of internal divisions and bad chemistry within the squad. For maybe once for a long time, a synchronized Oranje team will make the trip to South Africa.
It they can avoid massive injuries, the Netherlands will be the strongest outsider to win this ever elusive World Cup.
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