Netherlands head coach Marco van Basten has successfully guided the ‘Oranje’ to their eighth World Cup Finals, topping Europe Zone Group 1 ahead of fellow qualifiers, the Czech Republic.

The Oranje have been dreaming of World Cup glory since their failed bids in the finals of the 1974 and 1978 tournaments, but this time round many pundits feel that Marco van Basten's squad have a good chance to go all the way this time and claim their first world championship this summer in Germany.

After finishing fourth at France ‘98, the Netherlands failed to reach the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan after finishing third in qualifying Group 2 behind Portugal and the Republic of Ireland.

It was a devastating blow for a nation that are obsessed with football and something the current crop of Oranje stars will be looking to put-right at Germany 2006.

The Dutch team's greatest moments were back in the 1970s. Under coach Rinus Michels, they finished runners-up in the 1974 World Cup with a team boasting the great Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens, but who lost 2-1 to the hosts West Germany in the final.

Four years later in Argentina they made it to the final again, losing out 3-1 to the host country in Buenos Aires to become the first back-to-back runners-up in World Cup history.

The Netherlands went into Italia ’90 as reigning European champions, but despite the presence of international stars such as Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten, they went out in the second round against a Germany side who went on to win the tournament.

As they prepare for their first World Cup since reaching the semi-final’s at France ‘98, the Dutch can point to some impressive results in qualifying, topping a tough qualifying group that included the Czech Republic and Romania.

Former star striker van Basten has rejuvenated the national squad since replacing the experienced Dick Advocaat following the Netherlands’ semi-final exit at EURO 2004 and has formed a tight defensive unit that conceded just three goals in 12 qualifying matches.

Their defence, including Khalid Boulahrouz from Hamburg SV, Barcelona’s Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Tim de Cler from AZ Alkmaar and Ajax’s Urby Emanuelson, along with the goalkeeping of Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar, were key to their qualification, but that is by no means the only part of the pitch that the Dutch have talent in.

Midfield has lots of experience with captain Philip Cocu from PSV Eindhoven along with other international veterans, Middlesbrough’s George Boateng and Mark van Bommel from Barcelona.

They will be joined in the centre of the park by Nick Hofs from Feyenoord, Denny Landzaat and Martijn Meerdink from AZ Alkmaar, and Ajax’s on-form midfielder Hedwiges Maduro.

The Dutch side also have plenty of talent up front, with Edwin van der Saar’s Manchester United team-mate Ruud van Nistelrooy, who, when on form, is among the world's best, along with Feyenoord’s Dirk Kuijt and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also available up front, along with Chelsea’s Arjen Robben who can really do some damage on the left-wing.

Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar also looks set to secure a place in the Holland World Cup squad, having been given the green light by national coach Marco van Basten after being confirmed for a friendly against Cameroon in late May, this is after the squads have to be named on May 15.

Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, Khalid Boulahrouz and Ajax’s Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart, who all missed their 1-0 defeat of Ecuador in their friendly game on March 1 because of injuries, are all likely travel to Germany if they recover in time.

It is looking increasingly unlikely that former Juventus star Edgar Davids will be included in the squad, as Davids is currently failing to make Tottenham’s first-team and with coach van Basten having said that Davids, as well as Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay - could get picked in the squad for the finals, but only if they “play the stars out of the heavens” for their clubs.

The Oranje have been drawn in arguably the toughest group in the World Cup Finals, having been drawn in Group C, nicknamed the ‘Group of Death’, alongside Argentina, Serbia and Montenegro and Ivory Coast.

Inexperience could potentially spell some trouble in Germany as van Basten, since taking over as manager, has brought in many new players into the fold.

Although it doesn’t appear to be a problem now, Dutch teams in the past have sometimes failed to work together cohesively, leading to internal bickering and affecting the teams performance dramatically.

Marco van Basten's side should have plenty of confidence about them when their opening match in the Group of Death takes place against Serbia & Montenegro and they also know their toughest task will be to qualify for the last sixteen from the group stages. But, if they do, Holland could easily go all the way to the final.

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Holland Match Fixtures in the World Cup 2006

11-June-2006	Serbia & Montenegro v Holland	15:00 BST
17-June-2006	Holland v Côte d'Ivoire	18:00 BST
22-June-2006	Holland v Argentina	16:00 BST

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Historic Facts

First International appearance: Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905)

Largest win: Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972)

Worst defeat: Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907)

World Cup Finals Appearances: 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998

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Holland Match Results - Europe World Cup Qualifiers, Group 1

Date	Match	Result
12-Oct-2005	Netherlands - FYR Macedonia	0:0
08-Oct-2005	Czech Republic - Netherlands	0:2 (0:2)
03-Sep-2005	Armenia - Netherlands	0:1 (0:0)
08-Jun-2005	Finland - Netherlands	0:4 (0:1)
04-Jun-2005	Netherlands - Romania	2:0 (1:0)
30-Mar-2005	Netherlands - Armenia	2:0 (2:0)
26-Mar-2005	Romania - Netherlands	0:2 (0:1)
17-Nov-2004	Andorra - Netherlands	0:3 (0:2)
13-Oct-2004	Netherlands - Finland	3:1 (2:1)
09-Oct-2004	Macedonia FYR - Netherlands	2:2 (1:1)
08-Sep-2004	Netherlands - Czech Republic	2:0 (1:0)

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