Erik and Dominic make me depressed. Now that I want Holland to win, the Dutch keep on repeating how bad the team is and how fast they will exit the tournament. Cheer up guys.
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Van Basten's squad: a suicide mission (5 Viewers)
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On an individual basis, Holland seems to have the weakest defense in the entire Group C, which Erik probably knows all too well about. You also have to question why that imbecile Pekerman decided to leave out Samuel and Zanetti, however Gonzalo Rodriguez is a superior player to anybody the Netherlands is able to field at the back. Kolo Toure and Eboue are both solid players for the Cote D'Ivoire, and seeing that Boulahrouz is probably the best defender Van Basten has in his squad, this doesn't really look promising.
But if Holland can establish their attacking rhythm in Germany I believe they can compensate for this weakness at the back, and considering they will be playing close to home they certainly have an advantage over Argentina in this respect. A midfield of van der Vaart, Sneijder and van Bommel looks pretty damn good to me. I still believe they have a good chance of progression.
But if Holland can establish their attacking rhythm in Germany I believe they can compensate for this weakness at the back, and considering they will be playing close to home they certainly have an advantage over Argentina in this respect. A midfield of van der Vaart, Sneijder and van Bommel looks pretty damn good to me. I still believe they have a good chance of progression.
good times I tell you, good times Yesterday's game offered some perspective. Good to see Van Persie can do well on the right wing and that Sneyder is good enough in midfield if we need him. The defense was doing alright, although Cameroon aren't much of an attacking force without Eto'o :undecide:
Also; I wasn't impressed with the shape most players were in. Football games last 90 minutes, fellas, not 75
Also; I wasn't impressed with the shape most players were in. Football games last 90 minutes, fellas, not 75
Sorry about the misleading title 
Dutch masters?
By Paul Fletcher and Dan Warren
Think of Holland at the World Cup, and Johan Cruyff, 'Total Football' and those famous orange shirts doubtless spring to mind.
Since the 1974 tournament in West Germany, where they lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final, the Dutch have become synonymous with quality football.
But their colourful and vocal support has sometimes been more memorable than the actual team they have been supporting.
Marco van Basten is the man charged with the task of leading Holland this summer in a World Cup on German soil once again.
The Dutch striking legend has not been afraid to wield the axe, excluding established stars like Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay from his 23-man World Cup squad.
But can his mix of youth and experience go one better than the stars of 1974?
BBC Sport spoke to former Dutch midfielder Arnold Muhren , now working with the Ajax youth academy, to run the rule over the latest Holland team.
ATTACK
The Dutch forward line has a familiar look to British football fans.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's scoring exploits for Manchester United have long since marked him as a world-class talent.
Chelsea's Arjen Robben is likely to play on the left in a similar role to the one he fulfils for his club.
Dirk Kuyt may be less familiar, but 51 goals in the past two seasons for Feyenoord explain why Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with a move for him.
Muhren said: "It's difficult for Van Basten, but in a good way, because there are so many good strikers in Holland at the moment.
"He's tried Kuyt on the right side, but in my opinion, he's more of a central striker.
"You have to fit in Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy. I think Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of PSV Eindhoven probably won't be a regular player.
"Ryan Babel of Ajax is a good prospect, but he is not playing in the first team at the moment."
MIDFIELD
When Van Basten excluded Tottenham's Davids and AC Milan's Seedorf from his squad, the Dutch coach was not just laying down a marker in terms of clearing out the old guard.
He was also making a point of favouring players who play in the Netherlands.
Four of Van Basten's six midfielders ply their trade in the Dutch first division - although ironically, two of the three who play overseas are likely to start Holland's first game against Serbia and Montenegro on 11 June.
"I think Phillip Cocu from PSV Eindhoven will definitely play in midfield," said Muhren.
"He must make a choice between Mark van Bommel of Barcelona and Denny Landzaat of AZ Alkmaar, and between Rafael van der Vaart of Hamburg and Wesley Sneijder of Ajax. It's difficult to say.
"There has been talk that Van Basten wasn't happy with Van Bommel, but he's playing well for Barcelona and played the last game in Holland.
Van der Vaart has been troubled by an ankle injury, but Muhren believes he could be first choice if fit.
"I think he will play Van Bommel and Van der Vaart," he said.
"Van der Vaart has not lost form in Germany, he's a good young prospect. He's playing very well for Hamburg and has scored some very important goals.
"There is no need for Van Basten to bring Dutch players who are not playing in Holland to the squad because he has a lot of good youngsters playing in Holland.
"I think because these players have done so well in the qualifying games I think he is giving them a chance to perform in Germany."
DEFENCE
While Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar needs little introduction to British football fans, the back four in front of him is probably the least familiar area of the Dutch team.
Former Arsenal and Rangers defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst, currently with Barcelona, is likely to fill in at left-back.
But Muhren said he thought Van Basten may opt for the centre-half pairing of Hamburg's Khalid Boulahrouz and Alkmaar's Joris Mathijsen - both relatively unknown in Britain.
Similarly, the likely right-back will be another unfamiliar name, Alkmaar's Kew Jaliens.
"Mathijsen is, I think, a very good player. He's a very good man-to-man marker. Boulahrouz of Hamburg is similar.
"The right full-back is a little bit of a gamble. Jan Kromkamp from Liverpool has done very well, but because he's not playing as a regular in that team, I don't really think he will play on that side.
"Jaliens is playing for Alkmaar in the right full-back position and he's doing well there."
THE COACH
Since becoming Dutch coach in July 2004, Van Basten has made some bold selection choices.
But the results have backed his decision to favour youth and home-based players over the experienced stars playing overseas.
Holland were impressive in qualifying, topping the tough Group A ahead of the Czech Republic after going all 12 games unbeaten.
Muhren said Van Basten's chopping and changing of the team had paid off.
"He tried, I think, 40 or 45 players in qualifying to do what, in his opinion was the right thing," he said.
"I think I see the next generation coming through. We've got good players.
"I think we were a little bit lucky in the qualifying games as well. But we've done very well."
But Muhren said he expected Van Basten to make further tactical changes ahead of Holland's first game against Serbia and Montenegro.
"He's going to have a good look at players in certain positions," he said.
"As for Holland's chances, it's difficult to say. In Holland people are very optimistic. It's a case of surviving the first round, which is going to be tough. From then on, anything can happen.
"I think Marco has done well, the results speak for themselves, he's done well in the qualifying games, he's played attractive football for the fans and, hopefully, he can do well in Germany."
Story from BBC SPORT
HOLLAND'S RECENT WORLD CUPS
1974: Beaten finalists
1978: Beaten finalists
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Did not qualify
1990: Beaten in second round
1994: Beaten quarter-finalists
1998: Beaten semi-finalists
2002: Did not qualify
Dutch masters?
By Paul Fletcher and Dan Warren
Think of Holland at the World Cup, and Johan Cruyff, 'Total Football' and those famous orange shirts doubtless spring to mind.
Since the 1974 tournament in West Germany, where they lost 2-1 to the hosts in the final, the Dutch have become synonymous with quality football.
But their colourful and vocal support has sometimes been more memorable than the actual team they have been supporting.
Marco van Basten is the man charged with the task of leading Holland this summer in a World Cup on German soil once again.
The Dutch striking legend has not been afraid to wield the axe, excluding established stars like Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay from his 23-man World Cup squad.
But can his mix of youth and experience go one better than the stars of 1974?
BBC Sport spoke to former Dutch midfielder Arnold Muhren , now working with the Ajax youth academy, to run the rule over the latest Holland team.
ATTACK
The Dutch forward line has a familiar look to British football fans.
Ruud van Nistelrooy's scoring exploits for Manchester United have long since marked him as a world-class talent.
Chelsea's Arjen Robben is likely to play on the left in a similar role to the one he fulfils for his club.
Dirk Kuyt may be less familiar, but 51 goals in the past two seasons for Feyenoord explain why Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with a move for him.
Muhren said: "It's difficult for Van Basten, but in a good way, because there are so many good strikers in Holland at the moment.
"He's tried Kuyt on the right side, but in my opinion, he's more of a central striker.
"You have to fit in Kuyt and Van Nistelrooy. I think Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of PSV Eindhoven probably won't be a regular player.
"Ryan Babel of Ajax is a good prospect, but he is not playing in the first team at the moment."
MIDFIELD
When Van Basten excluded Tottenham's Davids and AC Milan's Seedorf from his squad, the Dutch coach was not just laying down a marker in terms of clearing out the old guard.
He was also making a point of favouring players who play in the Netherlands.
Four of Van Basten's six midfielders ply their trade in the Dutch first division - although ironically, two of the three who play overseas are likely to start Holland's first game against Serbia and Montenegro on 11 June.
"I think Phillip Cocu from PSV Eindhoven will definitely play in midfield," said Muhren.
"He must make a choice between Mark van Bommel of Barcelona and Denny Landzaat of AZ Alkmaar, and between Rafael van der Vaart of Hamburg and Wesley Sneijder of Ajax. It's difficult to say.
"There has been talk that Van Basten wasn't happy with Van Bommel, but he's playing well for Barcelona and played the last game in Holland.
Van der Vaart has been troubled by an ankle injury, but Muhren believes he could be first choice if fit.
"I think he will play Van Bommel and Van der Vaart," he said.
"Van der Vaart has not lost form in Germany, he's a good young prospect. He's playing very well for Hamburg and has scored some very important goals.
"There is no need for Van Basten to bring Dutch players who are not playing in Holland to the squad because he has a lot of good youngsters playing in Holland.
"I think because these players have done so well in the qualifying games I think he is giving them a chance to perform in Germany."
DEFENCE
While Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar needs little introduction to British football fans, the back four in front of him is probably the least familiar area of the Dutch team.
Former Arsenal and Rangers defender Giovanni van Bronckhorst, currently with Barcelona, is likely to fill in at left-back.
But Muhren said he thought Van Basten may opt for the centre-half pairing of Hamburg's Khalid Boulahrouz and Alkmaar's Joris Mathijsen - both relatively unknown in Britain.
Similarly, the likely right-back will be another unfamiliar name, Alkmaar's Kew Jaliens.
"Mathijsen is, I think, a very good player. He's a very good man-to-man marker. Boulahrouz of Hamburg is similar.
"The right full-back is a little bit of a gamble. Jan Kromkamp from Liverpool has done very well, but because he's not playing as a regular in that team, I don't really think he will play on that side.
"Jaliens is playing for Alkmaar in the right full-back position and he's doing well there."
THE COACH
Since becoming Dutch coach in July 2004, Van Basten has made some bold selection choices.
But the results have backed his decision to favour youth and home-based players over the experienced stars playing overseas.
Holland were impressive in qualifying, topping the tough Group A ahead of the Czech Republic after going all 12 games unbeaten.
Muhren said Van Basten's chopping and changing of the team had paid off.
"He tried, I think, 40 or 45 players in qualifying to do what, in his opinion was the right thing," he said.
"I think I see the next generation coming through. We've got good players.
"I think we were a little bit lucky in the qualifying games as well. But we've done very well."
But Muhren said he expected Van Basten to make further tactical changes ahead of Holland's first game against Serbia and Montenegro.
"He's going to have a good look at players in certain positions," he said.
"As for Holland's chances, it's difficult to say. In Holland people are very optimistic. It's a case of surviving the first round, which is going to be tough. From then on, anything can happen.
"I think Marco has done well, the results speak for themselves, he's done well in the qualifying games, he's played attractive football for the fans and, hopefully, he can do well in Germany."
Story from BBC SPORT
HOLLAND'S RECENT WORLD CUPS
1974: Beaten finalists
1978: Beaten finalists
1982: Did not qualify
1986: Did not qualify
1990: Beaten in second round
1994: Beaten quarter-finalists
1998: Beaten semi-finalists
2002: Did not qualify
NEW REINFORCEMENTS
Coach Marco van Basten has called up Nigel de Jong (HSV Hamburg) and Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar) to join the Dutch squad ahead of the World Cup in Germany.
FIFA regulations allow for such a move, and Van Basten has until midday Wednesday to decide which two players will be dropped from the squad.
Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneyder, Philip Cocu and Kew Jaliens all suffer from injuries of which the consequences are unclear at this point in time. Two of those players stand the most chances of being dropped from the squad.
Stijn Schaars is the least well-known of the two new players, but just steered the Netherlands U-21 team to become European Champions in Portugal2006. He was captain of the team throughout the tournament.
Coach Marco van Basten has called up Nigel de Jong (HSV Hamburg) and Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar) to join the Dutch squad ahead of the World Cup in Germany.
FIFA regulations allow for such a move, and Van Basten has until midday Wednesday to decide which two players will be dropped from the squad.
Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneyder, Philip Cocu and Kew Jaliens all suffer from injuries of which the consequences are unclear at this point in time. Two of those players stand the most chances of being dropped from the squad.
Stijn Schaars is the least well-known of the two new players, but just steered the Netherlands U-21 team to become European Champions in Portugal2006. He was captain of the team throughout the tournament.