Netherlands

[Barry]

Goal: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht).

Defense: Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart, Dui), Edson Braafheid (Celtic, Sch), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton, Eng), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV, Dui), André Ooijer (PSV), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfield:Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München, Dui), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City, Eng), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale, Ita), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid, Spa), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)

Attack: Ryan Babel (Liverpool, Eng), Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV, Dui, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan, Ita), Jeremain Lens (AZ), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool, Eng), Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Eng), Arjen Robben (Bayern München, Dui)

Preliminiary selection of course. Notable omissions are Van Nistelrooy and to a far lesser extent Piet Velthuizen. Velthuizen's position (3rd keeper) isn't as relevant, but I would take Van Nistelrooy to South Africa. His experience, his poaching, his attitude, his name....plenty reasons.

I pray Van Bommel or De Jong don't get injured. Mendes and Bakkal, and perhaps Engelaar should not be there. Bakkal is frustrating to watch and mediocre (same goes for Mendes) and I'd take an in-form Siem De Jong in his place - even Theo Janssen is a preferred option.

[The Eristic]

Originally Posted by Barry

Preliminiary selection of course. Notable omissions are Van Nistelrooy and to a far lesser extent Piet Velthuizen. Velthuizen's position (3rd keeper) isn't as relevant, but I would take Van Nistelrooy to South Africa. His experience, his poaching, his attitude, his name....plenty reasons.

I thought RVN had retired from International duty again.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by The Eristic

I thought RVN had retired from International duty again.

He did, but he decided he wanted to go to the World Cup anyway, if he got back to proper fitness.

[The Eristic]

Originally Posted by Barry

He did, but he decided he wanted to go to the World Cup anyway, if he got back to proper fitness.

Well, I guess this means he finally has a good reason for the long face.

[Billy Minof]

Originally Posted by Barry

Goal: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht).

Defense: Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart, Dui), Edson Braafheid (Celtic, Sch), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton, Eng), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV, Dui), André Ooijer (PSV), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfield:Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Otman Bakkal (PSV), Mark van Bommel (Bayern München, Dui), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Orlando Engelaar (PSV), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City, Eng), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale, Ita), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid, Spa), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax)

Attack: Ryan Babel (Liverpool, Eng), Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV, Dui, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan, Ita), Jeremain Lens (AZ), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool, Eng), Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Eng), Arjen Robben (Bayern München, Dui)

Not the greatest Dutch side I have ever seen but they will still be dangerous and one to watch.

[Barry]

I'm more confident than I was in 2008 about this team. Going forward it's like a coach's dream. Defensively we have grown, with a solid keeper on goal. They are all the right age, seem to have their head screwed on right, are in form

There's an abundance of cunts though, I was discussing that with my brother this morning. Van Bommel, De Jong, Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder, De Zeeuw..... it looks set for a kind of self-combustion that nobody does better than us.

I can see Anita, Bakkal, Lens, Brama, Ron Vlaar (or Ooijer), Mendes and Boulahrouz not going. Maybe Ryan Babel even.

Stekelenburg

Van der Wiel
Heitinga
Mathijsen
Van Bronckhorst

Van Bommel
De Jong
Sneijder


There's some talk of using Van Persie as the main striker, a concept largely unproven in the national team. If so, a workhorse like Kuyt will be posted on the right, or maybe Van der Vaart with as a sort of attacking midfielder on the right. Either van Persie on the right and Huntelaar in the center, or Van Persie in the middle and Kuyt or Van der Vaart on the right.

[Bish]

I think Van Persie as the main striker could be a good idea. I wasn't sure if he could play there but the few months he played for us in that position convinced me. He's developed strikers instincts to add to his often sublime support play. His hold up play has notably improved in recent times in my opinion.

Sneijder getting forward to support him with Robben and Van Der Vaart/Kuyt on the wings, looks very dangerous.

[chelsea11]

The Dutch have always had a really strong list of players. You're only problem is, something always happens off the pitch to fuck it all up.

That team is quite strong, wouldn't know much about the defensive side but there are a lot of great attacking players. I don't know if they could go all the way this year though. Who's the goalkeeper? Any use?

[Barry]

Stekelenburg is the first choice, unproven at such a tournament but on club-level a very good goalie.

[mufcsean]

Originally Posted by Barry

I'm more confident than I was in 2008 about this team. Going forward it's like a coach's dream. Defensively we have grown, with a solid keeper on goal. They are all the right age, seem to have their head screwed on right, are in form

There's an abundance of cunts though, I was discussing that with my brother this morning. Van Bommel, De Jong, Robben, Van Persie, Sneijder, De Zeeuw..... it looks set for a kind of self-combustion that nobody does better than us.

I can see Anita, Bakkal, Lens, Brama, Ron Vlaar (or Ooijer), Mendes and Boulahrouz not going. Maybe Ryan Babel even.

Stekelenburg

Van der Wiel
Heitinga
Mathijsen
Van Bronckhorst

Van Bommel
De Jong
Sneijder


There's some talk of using Van Persie as the main striker, a concept largely unproven in the national team. If so, a workhorse like Kuyt will be posted on the right, or maybe Van der Vaart with as a sort of attacking midfielder on the right. Either van Persie on the right and Huntelaar in the center, or Van Persie in the middle and Kuyt or Van der Vaart on the right.

Robben???

[chelsea11]

Originally Posted by mufcsean

Robben???

Notice he doesn't mention the left side of attack. I think Robben is the only certainty up front, and the two up there with him are what's questionable.

[Sho]

Gio still going to SA in June?

[Barry]

Yeah, he's the captain and he has all that experience and whatnot. Defensively he's a liability (though he knows his limits) but he's a smart player who knows what it takes.

[Barry]

Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht), Sander Boschker (FC Twente).

Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Edson Braafheid (Bayern München, Dui), Khalid Boulahrouz (VfB Stuttgart, Dui), John Heitinga (Everton, Eng), André Ooijer (PSV), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger SV, Dui), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax).

Mark van Bommel (Bayern München, Dui), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City, Eng), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid, Spa) , Ibrahim Afellay (PSV).

Dirk Kuijt (Liverpool, Eng), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan, Ita), Eljero Elia (Hamburger SV, Dui), Robin van Persie (Arsenal, Eng), Arjen Robben (Bayern München, Dui), Ryan Babel (Liverpool, Eng).

The final squad, which means Engelaar, Vlaar, Anita and Lens are not going.

[Dragonfly]

I have a funny feeling about you guys this summer. It could either go shockingly tits up (in a relatively easy group) or make it to the semis.