Holland go to South Africa with perfect score

Wednesday 09 September 2009

For the first time in history Holland have finished a World Cup qualification campaign with a perfect score.

The team of coach Bert van Marwijk beat Scotland 1-0 in an electric Hampden Park in Glasgow.

Substitute Eljero Elia crowned himself matchwinner (0-1).

Captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst earlier called the game a "good indicator".

He reasoned that with the Scots needing a win they would learn a lot about the real strength of this Dutch squad, as beating Iceland and Japan is all very nice but it doesn't say a thing about what you can do at a World Cup final.

Having watched the game in Glasgow some conclusions can be drawn.

One conclusion is that this team can not do without Mark van Bommel.

With Van Bommel beside Nigel de Jong Holland have a defensive block to be reckoned with and at the moment no one seems able to replace the Bayern-captain.

Stijn Schaars was allowed to try against England and against Japan David Mendes da Silva got a shot.

Because he too didn't suffice Demy de Zeeuw was in the starting lineup tonight, but he too will hardly have convinced Van Marwijk.

During certain stretches of the game Holland were overrun by the limited Scots.

That leads to another conclusion: Holland are shaky at the back.

They kept a clean sheet tonight, but that alone was a small miracle.

Kenny Miller could have scored three in the first half and especially his third chance was a sitter.

With goal keeper Michel Vorm beaten in the right corner Miller got the rebound from Naismith's shot that hit the post.

But Miller's effort was weak and not well-placed and allowed Vorm to block it with a desperate last attempt.

Besides Miller's chances Scott Brown aimed just wide with a header.

Holland were stumbling throughout the first half but the home team kept them alive.

And that meant trouble for Scotland as Holland have proven time and again that they can score a goal anytime, any place.

They have done so in the last 24 games and they came close on two occasions in the first half when Kuyt hit the post and Robben was denied by goal keeper Marshall.

Robben and Kuyt went close in the second half as well, but Holland had to wait until the 82nd minute when substitute Eljero Elia decided the game.

The Hamburg-forward replaced Arjen Robben 20 minutes from the end and showed some magical turns as he had done against Japan on Saturday.

Elia benefited when center back Weir misjudged a high ball from the back, and eye-to-eye with Marshall he made no mistake.

After Elia's goal Scotland seemed beaten, knowing they had lost second place in the group to Norway.

Holland do travel to South Africa next summer and because of the impressive qualification campaign they will be considered one of the favorites.

It's now up to Van Marwijk to iron out the last weaknesses.