The Holland Football Team!! (Netherlands National Football Team)

Member Name: steveymacca

Product:	Netherlands National Football Team
Date:	21/01/01 (4962 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: So much ability, so much talent!

Disadvantages: None

In my view, Holland underachieved in Euro 2000. Ok, they managed to reach the semi-finals before going out on penalties to Italy, but due to the very high standards that were set for themselves before the tournament began, this was not good enough for the vast majority of fans. Many people expected it to be a contest between France and Holland in the final, but due to the inability to finish off the Italians by the Dutch, this 'dream' final was not able to happen.

Throughout the competition, the Dutch played some very fine and attractive football which was a pleasure to watch. They passed the ball around well, moved for each other, defended well and basically did all the things that you would expect with the players of top quality that they have in their line-up. On home soil, you would have had to tip them to go all the way, and after the record equalling 6-1 quater final victory over Yugoslavia, Holland were hot favourites to lift the trophy. If they hadn't have slipped up against Italy, I could have seen this team giving France a very very good run for theirmoney in the final and would even have tipped them to beat the French.

Holland have not always been at the top of the game, as in the last decade they have been what is fair to be described as sub-standard football. In the last couple of years though, they have started to show the quality and form which will inevitably lead them to success in a major International competition. They have a strong goalkeeper, a reliable defence, a midfield full of flair and ability and a strikeforce that is simply terrifying. With the players that they have, I can see them doing very well in the next World Cup which they will do doubt qualify for and, with a good draw, can even end up winning the competition.

Unlike the Italains, English and the Spaniards, many players in the Holland side are based in foreign countries, with not a great number of players actually playing their regular club
football in Holland. This could be as the Dutch league is not seen as very competitive compared to other leagues, and I would say that this is probably true although it also has to be said that the quality there is improving. The fact that many of the members of the regular first team squad play abroad may actually be a good thing for the National team, as it means that the players are playing at the highest level against quality opposition week in, week out and so they are well prepared when it comes to competing for their country.

I am now going to have a look at the players that are included in the Dutch national team and comment on their ability and capabilities.

Winston Bogarde

Winston has never really settled in at Chelsea and has struggled to find first team football there. It is reported that he is looking for a move and this is something he badly needs if he is to break back into the Dutch first team and build upon the 17 caps he has won so far. He should be seeking a move quite urgently, as at the age of 29 he is not exactly getting any younger and rotting away in the Chelsea reserves is no way to improve the hopes of playing for your country. I think that this player should be playing regular first team football somewhere, as he has good ability and is very capable in the centre back or left full back roles that he can play. For Winston, I feel that it is time to pack his bags, leave Chelsea and then maybe we will see him back in the Dutch first team on a regular basis, where he belongs.

Arnold Bruggink

Arnold is not very well known outside of Holland as he plays his club football for PSV and is only 23 years of age. Arnold plays either centre midfielder or centre forward and his ability has already seen him earn his debut cap. I think that if this player develops into the player that his potential is showing, he will be a very useful and regular member of the Holland side in years to come and may even force hi
s way into the Dutch first team. This man is one of the hot prospects for the future that the Dutch have, so keep your eye open for him!

Phillip Cocu

Cocu is a long serving Barcelona player whose loyalty to the club for many years has paid off. Phillip was not always getting into the Barcelona first team, but instead of requesting a move he stayed and battled his way there and credit should go to him for that. This player is now a regualar player in the Dutch starting line up and rightly so, as he is a very strong and reliable player who has a tough tackle. His ability to play in defence and midfield either on the left or in the centre makes him a very versatile player and Phillip should and probably will be allowed to add to the 28 caps and 4 goals that he has achieved so far. Phillip is an asset to the Holland side and they will do well to keep him in the first team and squad for some time to come yet.

Edgar Davids

This man is one of the best players in the Holland team, if not in the world. He can hold the centre of midfield well, as well as run with the ball, distribute the ball accurately, tackle back when needed and finish sweetly with either foot. Davids does have a problem with the vision in his eyes, and as a result has to wear special glasses to filter the amount of light entering the eyes. Credit should go to the player, as he has not allowed this problem to effect his career in the slightest. Credit should also go to FIFA, who have endorsed these special glasses and have not stood in the way of this great player. Davids plays his club football for Juventus and is rightfully a first team player there after his move from Barcelona. He has earned 34 caps to date and he will obviously be played in the Holland team again and will be for quite a few years to come, as he is only 27. This player has remarkable skill as he has shown off in the adverts he has done for Nike and this player is very very important to the success of
the Dutch team. If he continues to pull all the strings in the midfield as he has been doing, then I expect the Dutch team to go far, and for Davids to add to the awards he has already received from the top governing bodys in the sport. Personally, I enjoy watching this player as he is very exciting and is a pleasure to see play. Lets hope he stays clear of injuries so we will all continue to enjoy his talents.

Frank De Boer

Frank is not only one of two brothers that have made it to the top of world football, but one of two twins that have done it, which is even more rare and unlikely. This Barcelona centre back is very reliable for both his club and country and is also a first team regular for both. Frank has had a good long International career that is set to continue and he will almost definitely add to the big total of 63 caps that he has won so far. He isn't one of the most exciting players to watch but is one that does his job with no nonsense. Frank is a top class defender who still has a lot of playing time at the highest level left in him, although he is 30 years old. He is the most experienced International in the squad at the moment as he has the highest number of caps. He will no doubt be given the chance to build on his experience.

Ronald De Boer

Ronald is the more attacking minded of the two twins as he plays as either an attacking midfielder or a striker. He has recently moved away from Barcelona to Rangers, where he since has made a big impact and shown his ability to the full. He has so far made 48 caps for his country and scored 12 goals, with a ration of a goal every 4 games. This is quite a good statistic for a player that is often played as a right winger due to the vast amount of quality in the Dutch strikeforce. Ronald is a very useful player to the Holland side and will continue to be a regualr first team player for some time to come yet.

Ed De Goey

This Chelsea keeper does not make
it into the first team squad on a regular basis any more, as van der Saar is favoured above him. As a result, De Goey finds himself sitting on the bench more often than not and only really gets a game these days when the first choice keeper is injured or suspended. Ed has made 29 appearances for his country and has proved as reliable for Holland as he often does for Chelsea. De Goey is a reliable keeper that has been known to pull off some tremendrous saves which can keep his side in the game. At the moment he is not complaining about only being second choice for Holland but I am sure he would rather be in the first team. Maybe one day he will be again.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

This Chelsea striker is not really involved in the Dutch set up but I have included him beacause if he continues to maintain his excellent form for Chelsea, he may well be given the chance to add to the 7 caps he has so far earnt. He is a very strong and powerful striker who has a keen eye for goal and a prolific finish. His pace and power is what scares defenders and there is little that most defenders can do once this man gets going. He is great both with his feet and in the air and is starting to show the form that made him so feared by others in his time at Leeds. He has had no problems adapting back into the Premier league after his time away in Spain and if he maintains his form he may well be called into the Holland team again very soon. I would like to see this because I feel that this man would be an asset to the side and would only improve it even further.

Patrick Kluivert

Kluivert is rightfully regarded as one of the best strikers in the world at the moment. He is very strong in the air and although some doubts have been cast over his ability to finish, he went some way in silencing his critics with his superb displays and goal tally in Euro 2000. He has been a regular for some time now at one of the biggest clubs in the world, Barcelona, which s
ays something about his ability. This centre forward is still only 24 and has not yet forefilled his ful potential so I feel that he we have still to see the best from him yet. This is quite a scary thought, as he already has one of the best scoring records in the world, scoring a staggering 28 goals in 33 appearances. This man is going to set the world alight when he reaches the top of his form and there will be absolutely no stopping him. One of the worlds best strikers? Defitnely!

Roy Makaay

This weirdly named centre midfielder is avery important one to the prospects of Holland as he is a player of great ability who can also play up front. He doesn't make the Dutch first team that often due to the vast amount of quality that they have in these areas. As a result he has only made 9 appearances for Holland but I expect to him to make some more before very long, as he is a player of exceptional talent. He is valued at over £10m and would be a first team regular in practically any other team in the world that does not have such great competition for midfield places. A good player whose talents should not be wasted.

Mario Melchiot

Another one of those players that seems to have done his hopes of playing for Holland more harm then good by moving to Chelsea. Mario does not really get in the Chelsea starting line up on a regular basis and it is this that could hinder his quest for his first International cap. He is still young at the age of 23 and is a player of great potential who can play either as a centre back or as a right back. I think he should be given a chance to show what he can do playing for Holland, perhaps in a freindly or something. The experience will also do him good. Maybe if Mario starts to get first team football a little more often he will find himself in the frame for his first cap.

Marc Overmars

Marc has recently moved from Arsenal to Spanish giants Barcelona. He is a player of exceptional a
bility and has been a first team regular for Holland for some time, earning a total of 53 caps so far and managing to score 11 goals. Marc is just coming into the prime of his career at the age of 27 and in my view he should continue to be included not only in the Holland squad but in the first team for some time to come. Marc is an exciting player with a lot of skill ad flair which he showedin his time at Arsenal. His one criticism is that he is not up to the physical side of the game and does not really like to get involved in any haeavy challenges. Oh well, nobodys perfect, but this player is certainly a very good one who benefits the Dutch team enormously.

Michael Reiziger

Michael is a very loyal and committed Barcelona player and has been for the last five or six years. He is a very solid and relaible right back who can also play centre back, although his preferred role is the full back position. Michael is a regular player in this position for holland and at the age of 27 he looks set to keep it that way for a while to come yet. His vast expereince helps him keep his place at both club and country level and he is an asset to both. Lets hope he can continue being the solid and reliable defender he has neen so far and this way he will maintain his first team place for a while yet. A good, no nonsense right back!

Clarence Seedorf

Clarence is another player who has had vast amounts of experience with the Dutch team despite his young age. He is only 24 and has picked up quite an amazing 57 caps so far, meaning that he is well on course to reach a career milestone of 100 caps for his country. Clarence can play either on the right or in the centre of midfield and he is equally effective in both, setting up and assitisting far many more goals than he has scored, as his name as only appeared on the scoresheet on 7 occassions. Clarence is a highly regarded player all over the globe and I too rate him very highly and think that he can
continue to be a major star for the Dutch team. I believe that this player is good enough to win many major trophies at both club and country levels, although he has already won quite a few cups in his time at Real Madrid. We can defitnely look forward to seeing this player wearing the legendary orange shirt in future.

Jaap Stam

Jaap has stamped a firm place in the starting line up of both the Holland team and Man U. He is vastly valued by both, and it was fairly obvious that Man U missed his solidness at the back in the time that he was injured. He is a good tackler as well as being strong in the air and he has vast experience, being a key player in many of Man Us recent triumphs. He has earned 34 caps so far and this figure is definetly going to rise. He may even add to the 3 goals he has scored for his country, but he really should learn to leave free kicks to the experts, as I remember him blazing one high over the bar in Euro 2000!! Stick to your strengths at the back Jaap, that is where you are highly valued as one of the best defenders in the world.

Pierre Van Hooijdonk

This Nottingham Forest rebel has to be included not because he is in the Holland team but because he is not. The reasons for this are fairly obvious. He has made 17 caps for his country, scoring 7 goals, but due to his bad attitude and inability to settle at any particular club, he has simply thrown any chances he had of making it at the top down the drain. At the ae of 30 he is not getting any younger and I can't really see him wearing the shirt of his country again. He will have to stick to playing club football at his new found club Benfica.

Sander Westerveld

Sander is a very good keeper who keeps goal reguarly for Liverpool. Sadly, due to the huge competition for the number one jersey in the Dutch squad, this player doesn't really get a look in and has made only 5 appearances so far. At the age of 25 he is the youngest of the th
ree keepers and maybe his chances are not yet over, as he is a solid and reliable keeper and one that I feel would perform very well for his country if given the chance I believe. If this player is given a chance, he will be able to show the world how capable of a keeper he realy is. Until that time, he will have to be content in backing up the main first team, maybe on the bench or in other ways.

Boudewijn Zenden

This player has not really made many appearances for his country with only 19 caps under his belt but he is now starting to come a bit more into the frame after some fine performances for Barcelona. He is a versatile player as he can play either as a left sided striker or midfielder and we did actually see a bit of this man during Euro 2000. There was specualtion that he was moving to Tottenahm but this just turned out to be specualtion and now he is very happy due to the fact that he is getting more first team football at Barcelona. This player is actually a good one and as he is still only 23, I believe that we will see a lot more of his ever growing talent yet.

Ruud van Nistelrooy

I don't tink there is anybody who follows the sport that does not know who Ruud van Nitselrooy is. He is the PSV player that was on the verge of a move to Man U, only to break down during the medical. This shattered his hopes and dreams of playing in Euro 2000, but it has been reported recently that Ruud has started light training again and may be back to playing first team football again soon. I certainly think that he has a good career with Holland ahead of him as he is only 24 and has made 10 caps for Holland so far. He has tremendous ability and I beleive that we will see a lot of this man wearing the orange shirt of Holland when he is back to his full fitness and form.

Edwin van der Sar

Lastly, we have the reason that Ed de Goey and Sander Westerveld are kept out of the Holland team. This keeper is truely superb an
d is rated as one of the best keeps in the world. He showed his ability in Euro 2000 with some fine saves and reliable goalkeeping and you could just watch any Juventus match if you need proof of his reliability. Edwin is a first choice regular for Holand and has been for some time, earning 52 caps to date. I think that he has a lot of playing time left in him as he is only 29 years old and this man can only assist Hollands bid to get to the very top of world football.

So, the Holland team. They have some very fine individuals who more importently can blend together well as a team. I beleive that with the players that they have, Holland have the ability and potential to reach the very top of world football for years to come yet, and I can see them winning a major tournament before too much more time passes. I always enjoy watching Holland play as they are a very exciting and skillful team and are always pleasing to the eye. You may underestimate this team, but it would be at your peril. Holland are going to the very top of world football, and nothing is going to stand in their way!

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