The greatest moment for the Dutch team was in the 1970's when they reached the final of 1974 and 1978 FIFA World Cup only to end up as the runners-up on both the occassion to become the first team to do so.
Always boasting of some of the greatest names of football, the Netherlands have never been able to replicate the form and result of the team of the 1970s that had greats like Johan Cruyff and Johan Neeskens.
The Netherlands finished fourth at France 98 but failed to reach finals at Korea/Japan 2002 and the present team would be looking to set the record straight.
Coached by former striker Marco van Basten, the Dutch team started their qualification campaign on a bright note.
They went on to win 10 of their qualification games and defeated their main rival in the group, the Czech Republic, both home and away.
A closely knit unit, the Oranjes will now want to go where no team from the Netherlands has ever gone and win the FIFA World Cup.
Their coach will be seeking inspiration from the stunning performance of Cruyff's 'Clockwork Orange' at the 1974 finals which, incidentally, were also held on German soil.
The players to watch out for will be Phillip Cocu, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar, Dirk Kuyt, Hedwiges Maduro, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart.
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