The Dutch are synonymous with silky total football and have had great teams in the seventies and eighties and great players in the nineties, yet the nation has never lifted a World Cup. A Johan Cruyff inspired Dutch side lost in the final of the 1974 World Cup to hosts Germany and the team, minus Cruyff were again losing finalists again four years later, to the hosts (again) losing in extra time to Argentina in 1978. These were the closest times the Dutch have come to winning a World Cup, but many fancy them to win in South Africa, with bookmaker Bet365 making them their fifth favourites to do so at 10/1.
Get a £200 free bet with Bet365.
Holland have been drawn in Group E in this year's World Cup in South Africa, which will see them play Cameroon, Denmark and Japan in the group stages. This shouldn't represent too much of a problem for a dutch side that had a 100% record in European qualifying, the only team along with favourites Spain to achieve this feat. The Netherlands are as short as 1/7 to qualfy from Group E, which they should with ease. The 4/7 about them to qualify as group winners makes much more appeal with Bet365, especially considering their recent form in the warm-up matches beating the likes of Mexico and Ghana with relative ease.
In terms of winning the World Cup, it still represents a massive ask for this group of players. After all, the European Champions of 1988, who included Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ruud Gullit, failed to get past the second round two years later at Italia 90; plus the talented team of the nineties which included Seedorf, Davids and Kluivert to name a few managed to blow their chances on the training pitch due to in-fighting and the like. Dennis Bergkamp fired the Dutch team all the way to the semi-final in France 1998 and that was the last time Holland really took the World Cup by storm. That day the Dutch were beaten by Brazil in the semi-final and if both teams win their respective groups in South Africa later this month there is a chance they will meet in the quarter-finals. Bet 365 make the Dutch a 9/4 favourite chance to be knocked out at the quarter-final stage, most likely to Brazil.
This year's crop of Dutch talent includes Champions League losing Captain and domestic double winner for Bayern Munich Mark Van Bommel. Van Bommel will play a disciplined holding role and let the more expressive midfielders Arjen Robben, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder pull the strings. It's an impressive midfield with Sneijder already having won a treble this season for Inter Milan and in the form of his life. Goals shouldn't be too hard to come by in the shape of a fit and fresh Robin Van Persie who is a 2/1 shot with B365 to be Holland's top goalscorer at the finals and he will be abley supported by the industriuos if not prolific Dirk Kuyt.
4/1 Spain
9/2 Brazil
13/2 Argentina
13/2 England
10/1 Holland*
14/1 Germany*
14/1 Italy
20/1 France*
28/1 Portugal*
40/1 BAR
Stage of Elimination Betting
9/4 Quarter Finals
11/4 Last 16*
4/1 Group Stage
6/1 Semi Final*
8/1 Runners Up
10/1 Winner
To Qualify From Group E
1/7 Yes*
9/2 No*
Top Goalscorer Odds
2/1 Robin Van Persie*
7/2 Arjen Robben
11/2 Dirk Kuyt
15/2 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
10/1 Wesley Sneijder*
14/1 Rafael Van Der Vaart
16/1 Ryan Babel*
16/1 BAR
* denotes best bookmaker price.
Odds supplied by Bet365.com, plus many more markets including betting live in-running on all Holland matches at the 2010 World Cup.
Posted: Saturday, 5th June 2010
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: world cup, holland, netherlands, robin van persie, bet365,
 | France World Cup Football Betting French Squad Looking Strong In South Africa Franck Ribery the man to watch for 2006 Finalists | 4th Jun |
 | Portugal World Cup Odds Ronaldo Could Be The Star Of The Tournament All Eyes on Real Madrid Forward In Group Of Death | 4th Jun |
 | Betting On England Starting XI After Rio Ferdinand Out Captain ruled out of World Cup, Dawson tipped for call up | 4th Jun |
| Italy Potentially Massive Value To Enter World Cup History Books Azzurri big odds to win the World Cup for fifth time | 4th Jun |
 | England Can Be Backed At Great Odds To Win World Cup Rooney Can Lead The Way to Glory in South Africa | 3rd Jun |
Headline News
 | Benitez And Martinez Battle For Favouritism In The Next Liverpool Manager Betting Jose Mourinho An Interesting Outside Punt For Anfield Job |
| Roy Hodgson Announces His England Squad For Euro 2012 Rio Ferdinand Out But John Terry Included In 23 Man Squad |
 | Dante Stakes Odds Bonfire Set To Light Up York In Derby Trial Mandaean And Ernest Hemingway Also Being Backed |
 | Middleton Stakes Odds Izzi Top Likely Favourite In Close Betting Race At York I |
 | Eurovision Song Contest Odds Predict Middle Of The Road Position UKs Middle Of The Road Entry Russian Grannies Still On Top |
BRAND NEW £250 free bets offer.
Open Account - Free £250 Bets With Paddypower
£25 free bet with William Hill.
Open Account - Claim £25 Free With William Hill
Claim a massive £50 free bet with teh leading bookmaker Ladbrokes
Open Account - Free £50 Bet at Ladbrokes
The UK based bookmaker Betfred is now offering a £50 free bet for new clients.
Open Account - Free £50 Bet With Betfred
New £50 free bet offer.
Open Account - Free £50 Bet With Coral
BetVictor is offering £100 in free bets to all new clients.
Open Account - Open Account - Free £100 Bets With BetVictor
Up to £200 worth of free bets with Bet365.
Open Account - Claim £200 Free With Bet365
Those looking for some online casino entertainment ought to check out all the latest UK Casino Sign Up offers from the top operators including 32Red and many of the sports betting casinos.
There is excellent information, should you be interested in playing online blackjack, roulette, the best progressives or slots - Online Casino Betting with the best introductory offers
Bookmark This Page