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The Netherlands will be bidding to reach its first final in a while and shake off their image of group-stage giants, knock-out-phase chokers.
The teams tends to come to major championships with form players and flowing football, setting a breathtaking pace in the group stages, only to freeze in the knock-outs.
In the wake of the disappointment, Bert van Marwijk took over as coach from Marco van Basten and the Netherlands have set themselves lofty targets for South Africa.\par The current squad has made no secret of its ambition to reach the final and was impressive in qualifying with eight wins from eight games, conceding just two goals in the campaign.

Squad

Coach: Bert van Marwijk

Goalkeepers: Michel Vorm, Maarten Stekelenburg and Sander Boschker.

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Andre Ooijer, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Gregory van der Wiel and Edson Braafheid.

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay, Nigel de Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Stijn Schaars, Demy de Zeeuw, Mark van Bommel and Rafael van der Vaart.

Forwards: Ryan babel, Eljero Elia, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.