When Holland qualify it will be the ninth time they manage to do so.

Group 9 looks promising for their chances to qualify, as in Scotland, Norway, Macedonia and Iceland they find four teams that hardly ever meant big trouble for them.

Scotland
The Scots will probably best remember the encounter in 1978 when the men in black beat the later runner up 3-2.

The last encounter dates back to 15 November 2003, which was the second leg of a decider for qualification for Portugal 2004.

Holland lost 1-0 in Scotland, but more than compensated for that via a 6-0 victory at home.

Wesley Sneijder and Ruud van Nistelrooy (3 goals) were the big men in that game.

Norway
The last encounter dates back to 2002, when the two teams met for a friendly in Ullevaal. Edgar Davids scored the goal that gave Holland a 1-0 victory.

In competitive matches the two teams met in the qualifications for the 1994 World Cup and the 1996 European Championships.

At home Holland did fairly okay: 0-0 and 3-0.

In Norway results were less positive: 2-1 and 1-1.

Macedonia
The only two encounters with Macedonia were part of the qualification campaign for the 2006 World Cup.

Both games ended in a draw: 0-0 at home and 2-2 away.

Iceland
Eight encounters between the two, all in a timespan of ten years between 1973 and 1983. So it's been a while since Holland faced the islanders. The last one was in september 1983. It was a match in which Marco van Basten made his international debut for Holland. Holland won 3-0.

ALL GROUPS

Holland at the World Cup finals:

The Netherlands are currently ranked ninth in the All time World Cup table

All matches of the Netherlands at the World cup