The excitement is building as we get closer to opening match of the 2010 World Cup. The Great Tournament is less than two weeks away and the anticipation of the 1st African World Cup is building, its going to be great. Group E breakdowns finish with the Netherlands.

OFFICIAL NAME: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond



NICKNAME: Clockwork Oranje

FIFA CONFEDERATION: UEFA (Europe)

FIFA CODE: NED

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: 1st place in Group 9 of UEFA WC qualifying

WORLD CUP APPEARANCES (INCLUDING 2010): 9

BEST WC FINISH: Runners-Up, Germany 1974 & Argentina 1978

WORLD CUP RECORD (MP: Wins - Draws - Losses): 36:16W - 10D - 10L

HEAD COACH: Bert van Marwijk

MOST CAPPED PLAYER (# of caps): Edwin van der Sar (130)

ALL-TIME GOAL SCORING LEADER (# of goals): Patrick Kluivert (40)

BRIEF FOOTBALLING HISTORY:
The Netherlands is the best footballing nation never to have won a World Cup. In back to back finals in 1974 & 1978, they had the misfortune of facing the host nation with the Jules Rimet trophy at stake. With the exception of their 1988 European Championship, the Dutch are the perennial underachievers in major senior level tournaments.

Despite Holland's lack of championships, they have been a massive contributor to football. Legendary Dutchman Rinus Michels created a tactical system that completely changed modern football, its known as Total Football. The concept of Total Football might be The Netherlands greatest contribution to the modern game.

PLAYER TO WATCH:
The Dutch always have highly skilled and talented players and this one just came off a historic season. Can Wesley Sneijder carry his form to The Clockwork Oranje?
(Roger Parker-Fotosports International)
The Dutch #10 made history by winning a treble with Inter Milan as his vision & playmaking was key for The Nerazzurri. Sneijder will be the main creator and playmaker for Holland. His vision and passing in the Dutch attack will be essential especially on a team that does not have a dominant striker.

OUTLOOK:
The Netherlands had the most impressive qualifying campaign of all the Group E teams. They dominated their WC qualifying group with a perfect record scoring 17 goals in 8 matches. The Total Football the Dutch made famous was in full effect with 11 different players scoring and as a whole only allowing 2 goals. If Holland can do the same they will make a deep run in the tournament.

FINAL 23-MAN WC ROSTER:
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)

WC GROUP SCHEDULE:
June 14 vs. Denmark
June 19 vs. Japan
June 24 vs. Cameroon

Its off to Group F, the group with the defending World Champions.