Can the Netherlands win the World Cup?
Can the Netherlands win the World Cup?
By Amit Katwala, writing from London
With just three days to go until the world’s biggest sporting event kicks off in Africa for the first time, the excitement is beginning to build, and a quiet optimism is brewing. This is especially the case in the Netherlands, who followed a strong show in qualifying with emphatic victories in their three warm up games. They followed a 3-1 win over Mexico with a 4-1 demolition of Ghana, and although they went behind against Hungary at the weekend, they turned things around in fine fashion, running out 6-1 winners. Despite fears over the fitness of Arjen Robben following that match, Bayern Munich’s talisman remains in the squad, although he will definitely miss the first game against Denmark and possibly more due to a hamstring tear. Although it is always concerning to lose a player of Robben’s quality, the Dutch have good strength in depth, especially going forward, with Ibrahim Affelay and Eljero Elia showing their quality on the wings during recent friendlies (see especially Elia’s fantastic goal against Hungary). However, the team’s Achilles’ heel is at the back, with none of their defensive players plying their trade at a top club, and defensive frailties costing them cheap goals against Mexico and Ghana. So how will the Dutch line up for their first game against Denmark on the 14th, and what are their realistic chances of lifting the trophy that they have twice come close to lifting?
