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World Cup 2010: Meet The Finalists - The Netherlands Players Who Reached The Final
Take a player-by-player look at the squad that is on the verge of winning the biggest prize in international football for the first time in the Oranje's history with Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal.....
Jul 11, 2010 10:15:00 AM
By Subhankar Mondal
In our World Cup Comment series, individual writers at Goal.com offer their views on the hot World Cup topics of the day with local expertise and a global outlook.....
On Sunday evening the Netherlands take on European champions Spain for the right to become the 2010 World Cup winners. The Oranje have won every single game in South Africa so far and should they win at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, then they will become the first side since the great Brazil team of the 1970 World Cup to lift the coveted trophy by winning every match from the start of the qualifiers to the grand finale.
The Oranje progressed smoothly from the group stage in South Africa and, although the 1974 and 1978 beaten finalists didn't play scintillating football in the knockout stages either, they did score goals and were effective both at the back and in attack, overcoming the challenges of Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Goal.com now looks at the players who are on the brink of creating history.....
1. Maarten Stekelenburg
Games: 6 (0 as a substitute)
Clean sheets: 2
Has played each and every minute of the Netherlands' World Cup campaign so far. Has been brilliant at times and made 16 saves.
2. Gregory Van Der Wiel
Games: 4 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Has been an important figure at right-back for the Netherlands and has looked strong and efficient in the matches he has featured in.
3. John Heitinga
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Often a liablity at former club Atletico Madrid, the Everton centre-back has been quite capable at the heart of the Netherlands defence. Of course, being protected by two very tough defensive midfielders has helped, but Heitinga has been good in his own right.
4. Joris Mathijsen
Games: 5 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Has led the defence well and been very efficient in all the matches. Did look erratic on occasions against Uruguay but overall he has been nothing short of excellent.
5. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
The 35-year-old has been superb in the competition, arguably the best full-back in the World Cup. He scored one of the goals of the tournament against Uruguay and has been as strong at the back as he has been flambouyant on the attack.
6. Mark Van Bommel
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The former Barcelona centre-midfielder has been a perennial figure for the Dutch in South Africa and has been arguably the best defensive midfielder of the competition. His meanness and world class ability to break the opposition's attacking moves were typified in his performance against Uruguay in the semi-final.
7. Dirk Kuyt
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
The Liverpool midfielder has done his job calmly and efficiently on the right side of the three-pronged attacking midfield system for the Dutch. The versatile player has scored once and has provided three assists - the 'unsung hero' for the Oranje.
8. Nigel De Jong
Games: 5 (0)
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
He is not as 'mean' or 'dirty' as Van Bommel but his assured presence alongside the Bayern Munich medio has helped shore up the midfield and protected the back four. De Jong has been vital in the Netherlands' march to the final.
9. Robin Van Persie
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
The Arsenal striker has struggled for goals and has looked off-colour for large parts of the tournament. However, he has one goal and one assist to his name and remains the first-choice lone striker up front.
10. Wesley Sneijder
Games: 6 (0)
Goals: 5
Assists: 1
The Inter midfielder is the joint top scorer in the World Cup with five goals. He hasn't always been very consistent but he has been the Oranje's creative outlet from the midfield and has also popped up with crucial goals and link-up plays. Scored twice against Brazil and also netted a controversial goal against Uruguay.
11. Arjen Robben
Games: 3 (1)
Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Missed the first two group games but since then has looked superb. The 'Flying Dutchman' netted important goals against Slovakia and Uruguay in the knockout stages and is the spark in the midfield that has differentiated the Dutch from their opposition so far in the attacking department in the middle of the park.
23. Rafael Van der Vaart
Games: 3 (1)
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
The Real Madrid midfielder has been sparingly used but he has proven important for the Oranje. He has one assist to his name and although he will start on the bench against Spain, his introduction late on could prove to be crucial.
Also played: Khalid Boulahrouz 2 (0 as sub), Andre Ooijer 1 (0), Demy De Zeeuw 1 (1 as sub, 1 assist), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 0 (4 as sub, 1 goal), Eljero Elia 0 (5 as sub), Ibrahim Afellay 0 (3 as sub).
Yet to play: Sander Boschker, Michel Vorm, Stijn Schaars, Edson Braafheid, Ryan Babel.
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On Sunday evening the Netherlands take on European champions Spain for the right to become the 2010 World Cup winners. The Oranje have won every single game in South Africa so far and should they win at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, then they will become the first side since the great Brazil team of the 1970 World Cup to lift the coveted trophy by winning every match from the start of the qualifiers to the grand finale.
| Bet: | Returns: | Netherlands £11.67 | Draw £65.00 | Bulgaria £110.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Netherlands £11.70 | Draw £55.00 | Bulgaria £120.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Netherlands £12.00 | Draw £60.00 | Bulgaria £120.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Netherlands £12.00 | Draw £65.00 | Bulgaria £130.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Netherlands £12.00 | Draw £55.00 | Bulgaria £118.00 |
|
The Oranje progressed smoothly from the group stage in South Africa and, although the 1974 and 1978 beaten finalists didn't play scintillating football in the knockout stages either, they did score goals and were effective both at the back and in attack, overcoming the challenges of Slovakia, Brazil and Uruguay.
Goal.com now looks at the players who are on the brink of creating history.....
1. Maarten Stekelenburg
Games: 6 (0 as a substitute)Clean sheets: 2
Has played each and every minute of the Netherlands' World Cup campaign so far. Has been brilliant at times and made 16 saves.
2. Gregory Van Der Wiel
Games: 4 (0)Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Has been an important figure at right-back for the Netherlands and has looked strong and efficient in the matches he has featured in.
3. John Heitinga
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Often a liablity at former club Atletico Madrid, the Everton centre-back has been quite capable at the heart of the Netherlands defence. Of course, being protected by two very tough defensive midfielders has helped, but Heitinga has been good in his own right.
4. Joris Mathijsen
Games: 5 (0)Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Has led the defence well and been very efficient in all the matches. Did look erratic on occasions against Uruguay but overall he has been nothing short of excellent.
5. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 1
Assists: 0
The 35-year-old has been superb in the competition, arguably the best full-back in the World Cup. He scored one of the goals of the tournament against Uruguay and has been as strong at the back as he has been flambouyant on the attack.
6. Mark Van Bommel
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 0
Assists: 0
The former Barcelona centre-midfielder has been a perennial figure for the Dutch in South Africa and has been arguably the best defensive midfielder of the competition. His meanness and world class ability to break the opposition's attacking moves were typified in his performance against Uruguay in the semi-final.
7. Dirk Kuyt
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 1
Assists: 3
The Liverpool midfielder has done his job calmly and efficiently on the right side of the three-pronged attacking midfield system for the Dutch. The versatile player has scored once and has provided three assists - the 'unsung hero' for the Oranje.
8. Nigel De Jong
Games: 5 (0)Goals: 0
Assists: 0
He is not as 'mean' or 'dirty' as Van Bommel but his assured presence alongside the Bayern Munich medio has helped shore up the midfield and protected the back four. De Jong has been vital in the Netherlands' march to the final.
9. Robin Van Persie
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 1
Assists: 1
The Arsenal striker has struggled for goals and has looked off-colour for large parts of the tournament. However, he has one goal and one assist to his name and remains the first-choice lone striker up front.
10. Wesley Sneijder
Games: 6 (0)Goals: 5
Assists: 1
The Inter midfielder is the joint top scorer in the World Cup with five goals. He hasn't always been very consistent but he has been the Oranje's creative outlet from the midfield and has also popped up with crucial goals and link-up plays. Scored twice against Brazil and also netted a controversial goal against Uruguay.
11. Arjen Robben
Games: 3 (1)Goals: 2
Assists: 1
Missed the first two group games but since then has looked superb. The 'Flying Dutchman' netted important goals against Slovakia and Uruguay in the knockout stages and is the spark in the midfield that has differentiated the Dutch from their opposition so far in the attacking department in the middle of the park.
23. Rafael Van der Vaart
Games: 3 (1)Goals: 0
Assists: 1
The Real Madrid midfielder has been sparingly used but he has proven important for the Oranje. He has one assist to his name and although he will start on the bench against Spain, his introduction late on could prove to be crucial.
Also played: Khalid Boulahrouz 2 (0 as sub), Andre Ooijer 1 (0), Demy De Zeeuw 1 (1 as sub, 1 assist), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar 0 (4 as sub, 1 goal), Eljero Elia 0 (5 as sub), Ibrahim Afellay 0 (3 as sub).
Yet to play: Sander Boschker, Michel Vorm, Stijn Schaars, Edson Braafheid, Ryan Babel.
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