How the Netherlands qualified for Euro 2012
The Oranje lived up to expectations as they dominated a 6-team table containing teams like Finland, Hungary and Sweden. Exhibiting their total football, the Netherlands scored a total of 37 goals and conceded only 8 in the qualifiers.
Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie each finished the campaign with a 6-goal tally. UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers top scorer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar netted 12 times.
The striker’s prolific run started with a hat-trick away to San Marino on the very first day of the qualification campaign. The Netherlands went on to win the match 5-0. Huntelaar played his part in the next match as his brace secured a 2-1 victory for Finland in Rotterdam. He punished Moldova with a lone goal at the Zimbru Stadium on Matchday 3.
The on-fire striker maintained his form with 2 goals against Sweden in Amsterdam. Van Persie stole the spotlight on in September last year by scoring 4 goals past San Marino’s defence. In that goal fest game, Wesley Sneijder and Huntelaar netted a brace each.
Huntelaar clinched his 11th and 12th goals of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers at home to Moldova and away to Sweden. The match against the Swedes saw the Oranje lose their perfect record through a 3-2 defeat.
Who is the Netherlands’ coach?
Bert van Marwijk celebrated his 60th birthday on the day Chelsea lifted the 2012 UEFA Champions League title in Munich. The former AZ and MVV Maastricht versatile midfielder represented his national team only once as a player; that was in 1975. As a player, he won the 1978 KNVB Cup with AZ and the 1984 Eerste Divise with Maastricht.
Among his achievements as a coach, Bert van Marwijk won the 2002 UEFA Cup and 2008 KNVB Cup with Feyenoord. In 2008, he left club football management to become the Netherlands’ head coach following Marco van Basten’s departure.
Bert van Marwijk has a 2010 FIFA World Cup silver medals in his cabinet of awards.
Who are the Netherlands’ key players?
Robin Van Persie
The English Premier League star is consistent both for club and country. His terrific goal scoring form throughout the 2011/12 season has elevated him among the very best players world football has to offer.
If Arsenal overcame a crisis to finish third in the Premiership, much of the credit must go to Robin Van Persie. The Dutch striker, who banged 30 goals in the league, can score at any moment in a game. Van Persie is good with the head, the left foot and the right foot. He is poised to eclipse team mate Klaas-Jan Huntelaar during Euro 2012.
Wesley Sneijder
Sneijder will certainly try to put a rather disappointing season with Inter behind. The midfielder was at top of his career in the year 2010 when he won the UEFA Champions League title and a silver medal with the Oranje at the World Cup.
Wesley Sneijder, who missed out on a move to Manchester United last summer, will be out to prove that he still has strength to rule the midfield. He will be in charge of making moves leading to attacks for the Netherlands. A good game for Sneijder could mean a good game for the entire Oranje squad.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is one of the best wingers in the world. Often compared to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for his quick runs and dribbling abilities, the Bayern Munich star could gain more applauds in June.
Thanks to his familiarity with players like Manuel Neuer and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Arjen Robben will be the one to watch out for when the Netherlands will face Germany on June 13.
The Netherlands’ Euro 2012 squad
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg, Tim Krul, Michel Vorm
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz, Wilfred Bouma, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Ron Vlaar, Gregory van der Wiel, Jetro Willems
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay, Mark van Bommel, Nigel de Jong, Stijn Schaars, Wesley Sneijder, Kevin Strootman, Rafael van der Vaart
Forwards: Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Luuk de Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Luciano Narsingh, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben
Who are the Netherlands’ Euro 2012 group opponents?
The Oranje are amongst the favourites to win Euro 2012. However, they will have to overcome the horror of crashing out in the first round. In a group of death, one top team always suffers an early exit. Group opponents Germany, Portugal and Denmark will all try to press the Oranje hard.
The Netherlands’ group matches schedule
June 9, 2012: Netherlands vs Denmark – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv
June 13, 2012: Netherlands vs Germany – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv
June 17, 2012: Portugal vs Netherlands – Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv
More on the Netherlands’ live streaming and TV schedule info page.
FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
The Netherlands are the 3rd best team in Europe but 4th in the world. They lack behind world leaders Spain, reigning Copa America champions Uruguay and 2010 FIFA World Cup bronze medal winners Germany.
