It's hard to believe that Holland's only major tournament victory in the 1988 European Championships was twenty years ago. With current coach Marco Van Basten and illustrious team-mates like Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, that Dutch side and their final win over Russia will live long in the memory. Three semi-finals since, in 1992, 2000 and 2004, have seen the Oranje fall at the next to last hurdle. Can Van Basten make the difference once again?
Stumbling home over the qualification line from the easiest qualifying group, Holland are in far from tip top shape as they prepare for another assault on the European Championships trophy. Beaten into second place by Romania, who along with France and Italy they now face in their Euro 2008 group, Holland were lucky to scrape past Luxembourg and just about staved off competition from Bulgaria for the second qualification spot. With such an array of talent at his disposal, are the coach's tactics to blame or simply the old Dutch problem of team disharmony?
One of the world's finest strikers and a goalscorer in Holland's victorious 1988 final win over Russia, Marco Van Basten still has a lot to prove as Dutch national coach. Having agreed to take over at Ajax after Euro 2008 this is his last chance to gloss over the inadequacy of his four year reign and help reclaim his own profile amongst Dutch fans. To do so his favoured 4-3-3 formation may have to be consigned to the rubbish bin and revert to a 4-4-2 to make best use of his attacking assets.
Now back in favour with coach Van Basten, Ruud Van Nistlerooy will need to provide the goalscoring threat to really ignite the Dutch challenge at Euro 2008. For full effect he needs to play in a system that supports his style of play and, if Van Basten relents, he will be rewarded with goals.
Still number one for Holland and Manchester United, captain Edwin Van der Sar has regained his position as one of the world's top goalkeepers. Although Euro 2008 will be his last tournament for Holland, he remains one of their most important players and all the more so for the lack of defensive solidity in front of him.
