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Netherlands team look ahead to Euro 2012
Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 by SNTV


Intro:

Netherlands team prepare for Euro 2012, which starts next month.

Script:

The Netherlands go into Euro 2012 as one of the favourites to lift the cup. But they're also one of the great underachievers of world football.

Despite reaching three world cup finals, the 1988 European Championship remains their only major piece of silverware.

The Dutch have reached the knock-out stages of five successive Euros since then, but haven't made it beyond the semi-finals.

And despite a difficult Group B which includes great rivals Germany as well as Portugal and Denmark, The Netherlands have a great chance of success.

From the team which started the 2010 World Cup final, only retired left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst is missing from the provisional squad of 27 named on Tuesday.

But Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt says that even getting past the group stage will be a challenge.
SOUNDBITE - Dirk Kuyt. Netherlands Forward

"I think at the moment there are a lot of very good European teams and there are less countries in the Euros than in the world cup and maybe the group stage is more difficult than the group stage in the world cup. For me to play the Euros, and to play against big countries and big players that's what it's all about, that's why you want to be there."

With the likes of Robin van Persie, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben as attacking options and 37 goals in 10 qualifying games, the Dutch are certainly strong contenders.

They warm up for the tournament with a friendly against Bulgaria on Saturday 26th may.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia