Coach: Bert van Marwijk
Key Player: Arjen Robben
World Ranking: 4
World Cup Record: Eight World Cup appearances – Finalists in 1974 & 1978
Group E Schedule:
14 June – Netherlands v Denmark
19 June – Netherlands v Japan
24 June - Cameroon v Netherlands
The position of central striker is the most discussed matter in the Dutch team. In Dirk Kuyt and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Van Marwijk has two obvious choices, though Huntelaar has not played regularly this season despite a move from Real Madrid to AC Milan, while Kuyt fills in the right wing at his club, Liverpool.
However, Robin van Persie has also made clear that he wants to act as central striker, though he may be more useful as winger or playmaker.
It would be easy to name Arjen Robben (who will miss their opener against the Danes due to a thigh injury), Wesley Sneijder or Van Persie, as the players to watch, but Van Marwijk's son-in-law Mark van Bommel might be the natural playing captain for the Dutch.
The 32-year-old defensive midfielder has shown outstanding class during Bayern Munich's treble-chasing season, becoming the club's first foreign captain to lift the Bundesliga trophy.
Final Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
