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Euro 2012 has served as a type of “Year Zero” for Holland. After three defeats in three group games, the team which had finished as runners-up at the 2010 World Cup left Poland/Ukraine in shame. The KNVB (Dutch FA) sacked coach Bert van Marwijk and appointed Louis van Gaal as his successor. In his first five games, Van Gaal called up 32 players, used 28 and played 17 different line-ups. The former Bayern Munich boss has not picked the same starting eleven so far.

Inside Futbol take a look at Van Gaal’s second coming with the Oranje and the coach’s current thinking:

Goalkeeper

Despite Maarten Stekelenburg’s inconsistent performances at Roma, he remains Van Gaal’s first choice between the sticks. When reserve Tim Krul was handed a chance to impress, in a 2-0 win over Turkey, he was underwhelming. And, as was the case under Van Marwijk, Swansea City’s Michel Vorm seems to be out of the picture.

Right Back

Gregory van der Wiel has been Holland’s right back for the last four years, however under Van Gaal he has yet to play a single minute. “Transfer market worries”, said the coach when asked, during which time Van der Wiel was moving from Ajax to Paris Saint-Germain. Now that his “worries” are behind him, Van der Wiel may well take his place back, putting the talented but less experienced Ricardo van Rhijn (the only Ajax player so far called up by Van Gaal) and Daryl Janmaat on the bench.

Right central defender

John Heitinga produced two performances to forget at Euro 2012 before being replaced by Ron Vlaar, who did not do too much better. Moreover, the Aston Villa defender still lacks international status, as is the case with Feyenoord star Stefan de Vrij too. Heitinga’s career appears to have passed its zenith, however he is still a preferred option, maybe because the cure seems worse than the disease.

Left central defender

Bruno Martins Indi is the umpteenth talent developed by Feyenoord’s academy. Van Gaal did not waste a single minute, selecting him at once for the starting eleven as a left back. But when the Holland coach saw how the Portuguese-born player performed in Feyenoord’s defence in the Champions League preliminary round against Dynamo Kyiv, he immediately moved him into the centre. Joris Mathijsen’s days as an automatic pick look over.

Left back

Regular starter Erik Pieters missed Euro 2012 due to injury and Van Marwijk bet on youngster Jetro Willems, who struggled. Van Gaal first opted for Martins Indi, giving Willems back his place only when the Feyenoord man was moved into the middle of defence. The PSV Eindhoven talent has not performed as well as expected so far though and Pieters should replace him once fit.

Defensive midfielder

Nigel de Jong looked a little off the pace when he made his debut for AC Milan this season, while Van Gaal was not a fan of the tough-tackling midfielder when he was Ajax technical director. However, De Jong’s never-say-die attitude in Holland training helped him win his place back from Feyenoord’s Jordy Clasie, who may be more technical, but lacks the former Manchester City man’s fighting spirit.

Right midfielder

Van Gaal has used five players in this role: three all-round midfielders (Kevin Strootman, Adam Maher, Leroy Fer), a classical number 10 (Rafael van der Vaart) and a left-sided attacking midfielder (Ibrahim Afellay). The question is one of balance. Is it better to have a technically sublime Van der Vaart or Afellay and only one defensive midfielder? Or a substance over style Holland with a “water carrier” in the role? The jury is still out.

Left midfielder

Wesley Sneijder was one of the few Dutch players who could exit Euro 2012 with his head held high. The Inter playmaker was the first brick chosen by Van Gaal to build his new Oranje side. Sneijder was there against Belgium, Turkey and Hungary, and only missed the games against Andorra and Romania due to injury. His replacement on those occasions was a completely different type of player in Strootman, labelled the “new Mark van Bommel”. Sneijder though, if fit, has no rivals for this role.

Right winger

Luciano Narsingh was the 2011/12 Eredivisie “assist king”. An impressive season saw him quickly move from the Under-21s to the senior side, though he was not given much of a chance to impress at Euro 2012 by coach Van Marwijk. Things have changed under Van Gaal, despite Narsingh’s performances at his new club, PSV, lacking consistency. There is no doubt though about the bright talent this fast winger possesses, better tactically and technically than his rival for the role, Ruben Schaken, a late developing dribbler who has only recently truly devoted himself to his football. Above the pair however stands the shadow of Arjen Robben, who has stated several times that he would prefer to play on the right.

Striker

Van Gaal’s dilemma was Van Marwijk’s dilemma: Robin van Persie or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar? Last season’s Premier League top scorer or last season’s Bundesliga top scorer? Both had a disappointing Euro 2012 and the pair have been handed equal opportunity to impress under Van Gaal – 225 minutes each. However, the devil is in the detail, with Huntelaar starting against Andorra, while Van Persie played from the first minute away against Romania. It is clear who Van Gaal currently trusts more.

Left winger

Along with Sneijder, Robben is the only Dutch player who is 100% sure of a place in Van Gaal’s starting eleven. His crystal glass fragility is the only thing that can keep him off the pitch. If that happens, Van Gaal has a ready-made plan B – Jeremain Lens. The PSV forward is in top form and has performed well every time the coach has given him a chance. Against Hungary, Van Gaal only told Lens during the warm-up that he would be playing, but it made no difference and on the pitch he scored a brace and provided an assist. While Eljero Elia is trying to rediscover his form after a “lost year” at Juventus and Dirk Kuyt seems out of the picture, Lens is Robben’s understudy.

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