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Van Basten's Netherlands will try to win the European Championship for the second time in their history since their success in 1988 in Germany. They have never finished below the quarter-finals since, and with the star power in their team they can certainly at least continue that tradition.
Netherlands had a less then comfortable qualifying for the tournament and finished second in Group G, trailing Romania by three points and only one point in front of Bulgaria. Netherlands scored 15 goals and allowed only 5 in the eight wins, two draws and two defeats in the qualifying.
They will be in possibly the toughest group in the tournament, Group C, that also includes Italy, France and Romania.
The team:
The Netherlands played their qualifying games with a 4-4-2 formation, and occasionally 4-2-3-1 as another option.
Veteran keeper Edwin van der Sar is certain for the position, while in front of him Van Basten can choose between Joris Mathijsen (Hamburger), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn), Mario Melchiot (Wigan), Winfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Johnny Heitinga (Atletico Madrid), and Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven).
The midfield doesn't fail to impress with Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), as well as Real Madrid's Arjen Robben, who has recovered from a left ankle injury and is fighting for a place. Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord) is also a candidate for the midfield, although is known to take a more defensive position. Experienced Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), who has 87 caps for Netherlands, has decided not to accept an invitation to the squad.
Seedorf reflects some difference in opinions within the Netherlands team as he has made himself available for new coach Bert van Marwijk after the tournament. Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich) also previously said he will not play under Van Basten.
In their star studded attack, Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid) underwent an ankle surgery in March, but is expected to be ready for the tournament. He has 30 goals for Netherlands in 52 games and will try to break Patrick Kluivert's national team record of 40 goals. Ajax's striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar has already scored over 100 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie and will be targeting to increase his international tally.
Robin van Persie (Arsenal) is also back after a five months absence from the national team due to a knee injury, and also fighting for a place in the attack will be Liveropool’s Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.
Coach Profile:
Legend of Dutch and world soccer, Marco van Basten replaced Dick Advokaat as coach of the Dutch national team after the Euro 2004 and won the first 15 games before suffering a defeat to Italy in Novermber 2005. His previous and only coaching job was with the Ajax youth team.
During his playing career Van Basten scored 128 goals in 133 appearances for Ajax where he won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1987 as well as 3 Eredivisie titles and Cups. During his stay at AC Milan Van Basten scored 90 goals in 148 appearances and won the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup twice, had 4 Serie A titles and 3 Italian Cups.
On an international level, Van Basten had 24 goals in 58 caps for Netherlands and was part of the team that won the only title for Netherlands so far at the Euro 1988 in Germany.
He also has numerous individual honours as a player, like the European Golden Boot in 1986, UEFA Player of the Year in 1989, FIFA Player of the Year in 1992, as well as several top striker awards in both Netherlands and Italy.
Van Basten is set to leave the national team after the Championship and take over at Ajax.
Team record:
This will be the 8th appearance for the Netherlands at the European Championships, having missed only one tournament since the Euro of 1976 in Yugoslavia. They have won once, made the semi-finals three times and finished third once.
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