Last World Cup: Runner up
Nickname: The Tulips/Orange
Coach: Louis van Gaal
Star man: Robin van Persie
Tournament best: Runners-up 1974, 1978, 2010

Van Gaal made amends for his failure to lead the Oranje to the 2002 tournament with an impressive qualification campaign, but memories are still fresh of their awful showing at Euro 2012. If the egos can be managed they could go far, although getting to the final again seems unlikely.

Strengths: The Dutch scored freely in qualifying, netting at least twice in every qualifying match: one of only two teams to do so. Only two finalists created a greater share of goals down the left wing, with a third of their goals being fashioned from this area. They were particularly menacing from long range, with the second highest proportion of goals from outside the penalty box.

Weaknesses: Long shots were also something of a weakness at the other end, with 40% of the efforts that found a way past their defence coming from distance. Their own prowess from range may have been driven by necessity, with the fourth lowest proportion of goals scored from inside their opponents' six yard box.

Prospects: Neither Spain nor Australia look particularly susceptible to long range efforts, so this may necessitate a rethink of their attacking plans. More interestingly, none of their group opponents gave much quarter down their right flanks, so the left wing is also less likely to be a source of goals for the Dutch.