May 27, 2006
A DUTCH TRICK OR TREAT
They must find a way to overcome their quadrennial internal problems, headaches

So much talent and potential and so many expectations, yet so few realizations. The history of Dutch international soccer is littered with underachieving sides. While they have to be admired for finishing second in successive World cups, there is a feeling by many observers that they were perfect opportunities that were missed and probably won't come the team's away again.

The Dutch seem to find way to shoot themselves in the foot.

* In 1978, the incomparable Johan Cruyff refused to play with the National Team in Argentina. That move mos likely cost the Dutch the title because Cruyff still was in his prime.

* In 1990, a major squabble with the coach, Thijs Libregts, left the squad in disarray several months before the competition. He was fired by the Dutch Football Federation on the urging of the players. The Dutch did not win a game in the tournament, despite the presence of the great Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard. they were eliminated in the second round by rival West Germany, 2-1, as several players blamed the poor performance on the conservative tactics introduced by Libregts.

* In 1994, Gullit, who regained most of his outstanding ability and agility after four knee operations, quit the team only weeks before the World Cup kickoff, leaving a gaping hole in the midfield. Not surprisingly, the Netherlands struggled in the opening round, losing to Belgium before being eliminated by Brazil in the quarterfinals, 3-2, in a game for the ages.

* In 1998, the Dutch finished fourth and lived up to its potential. They were eliminated, losing a shootout to Brazil before falling to Croatia, 2-1, in the third-place match.

It may be difficult to believe with all that talent that is available, the Netherlands didn't even get an opportunity to finish out of the money in Korea and Japan in 2002.

Former Dutch master forward Marco van Basten, the national coach, is trying to change that cycle and mentality by bringing young, promising talent that don't necessarily play for Ajax, PVS Eindhoven and Feyenoord, three Dutch clubs that have been the backbone of the national side.

Van Basten said he would select players only on the merits of their performance and he stuck with his word. He certainly shook things up by not calling such well-known players as Clarence Seedorf, and Patrick Kluivert into the team and benching Edgar Davids.

Instead, van Basten has "discovered" such "unknowns" as Barry Opdam, Khalid Boulahrouz and Dirk Kuyt, who scored three key qualifying goals.

On the other hand, the writing might be on the wall for Tottenham Hotspur's Davids, for many years considered the best defensive midfielder by many in the world, who was left off the team.

"We watched Davids several times but he didn't convince us and so he did not made the squad," Van Basten said. "For some players this match might be their final chance to prove they belong in the squad."

There are still some key players left over from Dick Advocaat's failed regime, including midfielder Philip Cocu, who is good enough to be considered an excellent defender, and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

When the Dutch weren't rolling along during qualifying, it was van der Sar who saved the team with several spectacular saves. He allowed only three goals in 12 games -- that's a miniscule 0.25 goals-against average.

Then there was an intriguing wildcard -- Salmon Kalou, an Ivory Coast citizen by birth but someone whose No. 1 priority was to become a Dutch citzen before the June 9 World Cup kickoff.

If the 20-year-old Feyenoord forward did it would have turned the Netherlands-Ivory Coast game with Ivory Coast into an intriguing brother vs. brother scenario. Bonaventure Kalou's older brother plays for the African side.

In March 2006, Dutch minister Rita verdonk blocked Kalou's citizenship application, and his subsequent appeal was denied.

Even without Kalou, the Dutch are expected to be a formidable side.

Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been the mainstay of the attack the past five years as he has enjoyed an incredible strike rate of more than a goal every other international match (25 goals in 47 appearances). But speculation emerged that his position could be in jeopardy after Kuyt, one of those "unknowns" scored the lone goal in the Netherlands' 1-0 win over Ecuador in Amsterdam on March 2.

"Kuyt did well and played with a lot of movement so the central striker position is getting busy, even though he should have handled his chances with more efficiency," Van Basten told reporters. "At his club he plays the same position and that is what he wants but so does Ruud. He left a good impression today and we will take that into consideration.'

The other key player up front is Arjen Robben, who also left PSV Eindhoven for the big bucks -- $22 million transfer fee in 2004 -- and competition of the English Premiership with Chelsea. Robben's forte is his speed and skills. However, Robben has to avoid diving and disciplinary sanctions that led to a pair of red cards.

The Dutch were grouped together with Argentina, Serbia & Montenegro and Ivory Coast, which has been termed this World Cup's "Group of Death."

Yet, van Basten did not seem fazed with the stiff competition. In fact, he welcomed the challenge.

"It isn't the Group of Death" he told World Soccer. "It's an interesting group."

An interesting bit of information for you World Cup history buffs

The Netherlands is one of two countries that has finished second in successive World Cups -- in 1974 and 1978. The other nation is West Germany, which accomplished the feat in 1982 and 1986.