FIFA Ranking: 15 (Last Updated 05 Jun 2014)
History: The Netherlands are the perennial under-achievers of world football. Despite producing legends like Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, Ronald Koeman and Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Dutch team has never won the tournament.
Three defeats in three tournament finals tells the story, more or less. After finishing second best in 1974, 1978 and 2010, the undefeated Oranje in 2013 will start the tournament in Brazil as one of the top contenders.
Qualifying report: The Netherlands dominated their group – Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia and Andorra; winning all but one qualifier. In the process, they scored 34 goals against five. Thanks to this impressive period, the Oranje army will travel to Brazil with new dreams and aspirations.
Star Players: Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and hosts of youngsters are part of this Dutch squad. Robben is probably playing his best football for Bayern Munich. After helping the German giants to a continental treble in 2013, the 30-year-old would like to lead his national side to that elusive world title. With his long time partner, Sneijder and the Manchester United front-man, RVP, Robben can form one of the most lethal attacking trio in this World Cup.
Top scorer at the Cup: Johnny Rep - the right-winger represented Netherlands in two finals in 1974 and 1978. His tally of seven cup goals came from 13 matches. Behind the former Ajax and Valencia player is Arsenal legend, Dennis Bergkamp (6 goals from 12). From the active players, Wesley Sneijder has five goals from 11 matches.
Most World Cup caps: Ruud Krol (14) – the legendary defender played a pivotal role in Netherlands`s 1974 and 1978 World Cup campaigns. Despite their famed Total Football, the Oranje succumbed in the final hurdle, twice in a space of four years. In that revolutionary set-up, Krol roamed freely, often supplying passes from the defensive line for strikers like Johan Cryuff to score match-winning goals.
Team record at the Cup: Brazil 2014 will be their ninth appearance in the show-piece event. The defeats by West Germany in 1974, and Argentina in 1978 created a hole in their footballing legacy. And they failed to qualify in the two subsequent editions. Surprisingly, after reaching the semis in France, they once again failed to qualify in 2002.
Coach: Louis van Gaal – Despite the debacle of 2002, wherein Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup, Louis van Gaal returned to manage the national side once again. The former Barcelona coach helped his country qualify for the Brazil event without a defeat.
After a relatively easy qualifying round, van Gaal and his boys will be pitted against the reigning champions Spain and two hugely talented sides – Chile and Australia. Certainly, it will not be an easy task for the former midfielder in the finals.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Michel Vorm (Swansea City)
Defenders: Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord)
Midfielders: Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea City), Nigel de Jong (Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich City), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV), Memphis Depay (PSV)
Forwards: Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kyiv), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04)
Group listing: Group B, along with Spain, Chile and Australia.
Fixtures:
June 13: Spain v Holland, Salvador
June 18: Australia v Holland, Porto Alegre
June 23: Holland v Chile, Sao Paulo