World Cup 2010: Netherlands Squad

Coach Bert van Marwijk is charged with the mission of helping the Netherlands shed that tag for good in the World Cup 2010. And having won an amazing 8 qualifiers out of the 8 that they played, the Netherlands again look like the team that should be taking the World Cup 2010 by the scruff of the neck.

But for the first time since 1994, Manchester United goalkeeping sensation Edwin Van Der Sar will not be making it to the World Cup. His place will in all certainty be picked up by Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax.

Their defense line looks to be their weaker area but then John Heitinga of Everton and captain Giovanni Van Bronckhorst are nothing to be sneezed at, while Andre Ooijer and Joris Mathijsen provide reliable enough backup. Khalid Boulahrouz of Stuttgart also comes into the side and so does young Ajax startlet Gregory van der Wiel

But the Dutch midfield, as it is quite often, is a work of art. While one or both of Nigel De Jong of Manchester City and Mark van Bommel of Bayern Munich can be called upon to perform the duty of a holding midfielder, the game will be taken forward by the likes of Wesley Sneijder - who enters the World Cup 2010 on the back of a brilliant treble winning season with Italian club Internazionale - Rafael Van Der Vaart of Real Madrid and temporarily injured Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben.

The brilliant Dutch midfield will surely make the task of Liverpool's duo of Ryan Babel and Dirk Kuyt as well as Arsenal's Robin Van Persie's job relatively easy. Hard to say which one of these and highly rated Eljero Elia of Hamburg and Klaas Jan Huntelaar of AC Milan looks more likely to start as they mount a challenge to beat the excellent teams of Spain, Brazil, England, Argentina, France and Italy.

Final Squad of 23 for the World Cup 2010.

Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax)

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid)

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich), Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

Coach:Bert van Marwijk.

So will this be the year for the Flying Dutchmen? Watch out for more on the FIFA World Cup 2010 right here...