| Germany 2006: |
| NETHERLANDS |
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|
| KEY FACTS |
| World Ranking |
| 2nd |
| NETHERLANDS NEWS |
| They may have missed out in Korea/Japan but the Netherlands are now regarded one of the favourites for the Germany '06 edition. Finishing well ahead of the Czech Republic, dropping only 4 points all campaign, the Dutch are well and truely deserving of their new 2nd place world ranking behind Brazil. A key to this is their strong defence which allowed only 3 goals in 12 matches through, none in the last 9 matches. Lead by Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooij (7 goals), the Dutch have great depth to call on and will be a strong force come the finals. |
| Qualifying Group Position |
| 1st |
| Group A |
| Top Scorers |
| Ruud Van Nistelrooy |
| 7 Goals |
| QUALIFYING |
| 2-2 |
| Macedonia FYR |
| Drew |
| 09-Oct-04 |
| 3-1 |
| Finland |
| Dft |
| 13-Oct-04 |
| 3-0 |
| Andorra |
| Dft |
| 17-Nov-04 |
| 2-0 |
| Armenia |
| Dft |
| 2-0 |
| Romania |
| Dft |
| 04-Jun-05 |
| Finland |
| Dft |
| 08-Jun-05 |
| 1-0 |
| Armenia |
| Dft |
| 03-Sep-05 |
| 4-0 |
| Andorra |
| Dft |
| 07-Sep-05 |
| 2-0 |
| Czech Republic |
| Dft |
| 08-Oct-05 |
| 2-0 |
| Czech Republic |
| Dft |
| 08-Sep-04 |
| 4-0 |
| 30-Mar-05 |
 |
| 2-0 |
| Romania |
| Dft |
| 26-Mar-05 |
| 2-0 |
| Macedonia FYR |
| Drew |
| 16-Oct-05 |
 |
| NETHERLANDS'S WORLD CUP HISTORY |
| Appearances (Champions in bold) |
| 1934, 1938, 1974, 1978, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2006 |
| SQUAD (club in brackets) |
| Goalkeepers |
| Maarten Stekelenberg (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar, Holland) |
| Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United England) |
| Defenders |
| Khalid Boulahrouz (SV Hamburg, Germany) |
| Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar, Holland) |
| John Heitinga (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar, Holland) |
| Jan Krompkamp (Liverpool, England) |
| Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar, Holland) |
| Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Midfielders |
| Philip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) |
| Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar, Holland) |
| Hedwiges Maduro (Ajaz Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Wesley Sneijder (Ajaz Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Mark van Bommel (Barcelona, Spain) |
| Rafael van der Vaart (SV Hamburg, Germany) |
| Forwards |
| Ryan Babel (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland) |
| Dirk Kuijit (Feyenoord, Holland) |
| Arjen Robben (Chelsea, England) |
| Robin van Persie (Arsenal, England) |
| Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) |
| Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven, Holland) |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United England) |