2010 World Cup Qualifying – Holland’s Journey So Far

After some fantastic, if in the end unrewarded, performances at the European Championships in 2008; the Netherlands have made one of the best starts of any team as they attempt to reach the World’s greatest tournament 2010. The Oranje have claimed an impressive 15 points from a possible 15, on a seemingly interminable run of form.

        Bert van Marwijk’s team are now in a position where a win in their next fixture, away to Iceland would guarantee the stature of one of the world’s greatest 32 teams. Holland will be wanting to qualify and put right the disappointments of the two previous World Cup finals’ – 2002 they failed to qualify and 2006 they could not progress further than the second round. Standing in their way are the other four teams in Group 9 – Scotland, Macedonia, Norway and Iceland.

        The Oranje made a decent, if unconvincing, start to the campaign, as they just managed to hold onto their lead as they visited Macedonia. They were having trouble finding the breakthrough as a sturdy Macedonia defence stood strong. However Holland broke the deadlock just after the interval with John Heitinga’s headed effort. The game looked to be won when Rafael van der Vaart got a second, though Goran Pandev gave the hosts a glimmer of hope when he converted from the penalty spot, but Holland managed to hang on to claim the points.

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        The Feijenoord Stadion then played host to the match between the Netherlands and Ireland. Joris Mathijsen put the home team in front after just 15 minutes, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar doubled the lead mid-way through the second half. Despite the scoreline, it wasn’t all happy news for Marwijk though, as midfield anchorman Nigel de Jong was forced off after just 14 minutes with an injury.

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        Holland then made it nine points from nine with a 1-0 win away to Norway. Neither team were particularly at the races, and some may accuse the match of failing to live up to expectations. Yet one piece of brilliance from Mark van Bommel lit up the tie. And his volley was enough to secure the three points for the Oranje. The team were now in poll position to secure that all important top spot in Group 9.

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        Despite taking maximum points from their opening three matches, there was a sense among the fans that better performances would be required if they were to go into the World Cup finals standing a chance. And the team showed that with an impressive 3-0 defeating of Scotland, putting a dent in their hopes of qualifying. Huntelaar opened the scoring after half an hour, and Robin van Persie gave the Dutch a second in injury time. Gary Caldwell then had a goal disallowed, but was to feel even more hard done by as Dirk Kuyt put the game beyond Scotland from the penalty spot.

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        It was to get even better for Holland, though, as they put four past Macedonia in their next match. Robin van Persie was abscent through injury, but an impressive performance showed they didn’t need the striker. A Huntelaar goal, sandwhiched between a Kuyt brace, gave the home team a 3-0 lead going into the break. Second half substitute van der Vaart then put the Netherlands 4-0 up late on in the match.

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