Total Football Comes to Africa

Netherlands

The proponents of ‘Total Football‘; everyone remembers how well the Oranje play at the World Cup but never seem to get the rub of the green. The Dutch are most neutrals favourite for the trophy but they seem to crumble when it matters most.

Should Spain somehow win the World Cup in South Africa, then the tag of ‘Football’s Underachievers’ should be passed onto the Dutch. Losing finalist in 1974 and 1978 to then West Germany and Argentina respectively, you would be pardoned to sympathise with the Dutch. Knocked out of the last World Cup in Germany by Portugal in the Second Round, the Dutch failed to qualify for the party in Korea/Japan 2002.

With the likes of Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Edwin Van der Saar, the De Boer brothers, Philippe Cocu amongst others, Holland were eliminated by Brazil in the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out in France 12 years ago. Most neutrals would like to see the Dutch excel and with a team of young talents including Robin Van Persie, Ryan Babel, Nigel De Jong, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben amongst others, this may be the year the Oranje finally break their duck. I doubt it! But who can tell? 2010 could just be the year that Total Football reaps its dividends.