UEFA Euro 2012

Coach Bert van Marwijk has selected two Premiership goalkeepers – Tim Krul from Newcastle United and Swansea City’s Michel Vorm – in his squad, along with five other British-based players, namely Arsenal hot-shot Robin van Persie, Everton’s John Heitinga, Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong, Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt and Tottenham’s Rafael van der Vaart.

Also included are Ajax defenders Vurnon Anita and Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Joris Mathijsen (Malaga), Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven); midfielders Ibrahim Afellay (Barcelona), tough-tackling Mark van Bommel (AC Milan), Stijn Schaars (Sporting Lisbon), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan) and Kevin Strootman (PSV Eindhoven); and forwards Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Luuk de Jong (FC Twente), Siem de Jong (Ajax), Jeremain Lens (PSV Eindhoven), Luciano Narsingh (Heerenveen) and Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).

The Dutch always give a good account of themselves, in whatever competition they participate.

They have suffered four World Cup final defeats, and have won the European Championship once (in 1988) but before every tournament, someone, somewhere, gives them a chance… and I feel they can do well this time round.