World Cup 2014 Preview: Uncertainty surrounds Holland

May 30, 2014 - 7:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Holland's national team is in an interesting position ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

With a wealth of individual talent and a legendary coach calling the shots, the Netherlands should be considered an odds-on favorite to make a deep run in the competition, possibly going a step further than the 2010 edition that saw the Dutch finish as runners-up to Spain.

But the same level of anticipation loomed in the build-up to Holland's Euro 2012 effort and the nation endured a disappointing outing, crashing out of the competition in the group stage with three defeats from three matches.

The premature exit resulted in the swift resignation of head coach Bert van Marwijk, and within a fortnight, Louis van Gaal was appointed for his second spell in charge of the Dutch national team.

Van Gaal's first stint with the Netherlands ended in disaster as the nation failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, but the 62-year-old tactician made amends by helping the Dutch breeze through their 2014 qualifiers.

The Netherlands topped their UEFA qualifying group with ease, going unbeaten in 10 matches while scoring 34 goals and conceding just five. Robin van Persie was the star of the country's qualifying efforts, leading all of UEFA in scoring with 11 goals.

Van Persie figures to be the focal point of Holland's experienced contingent of attacking players, even though the 30-year-old endured a sub par season with Manchester United last term.

But the United striker has shown that he can flourish both under the guidance of the demanding van Gaal and alongside Holland's rich supporting cast.

Arjen Robben is as dynamic a 30-year-old as there is in all of world football. The Bayern Munich star is clever enough to operate on either wing and still make use of his deadly left foot, a weapon that has terrorized opposing defenses for years.

Dirk Kuyt boasts plenty of big-game experience, and the 33-year-old is still capable of producing on the big stage despite making a move to Fenerbahce, away from Europe's top leagues, in 2012.

Sitting behind the attacking unit will be Wesley Sneijder and Nigel de Jong, the two most-capped midfielders in Holland's World Cup squad. The duo should bring a great deal of balance to the side as de Jong's defensive positioning compensates for Sneijder's attacking mentality.

The major weakness for the Netherlands remains the defensive unit. Ron Vlaar is the most experienced defender on the roster, but the fact that he has not represented the Dutch team in a major tournament is worrisome.

To counterbalance the defensive inexperience, van Gaal appears set to adopt a 5-3-2 formation that would utilize three central defenders and two wing-backs.

Such a set-up should clog the middle of the pitch for opposing teams, which could prove to be a beneficial tactic in Group B action against Spanish and Chilean sides that like to penetrate the defense by way of quick passes around the penalty area.

Fortune appears to be in Holland's favor ahead of the 2014 World Cup, but the same has been said about the team leading up to previous major tournaments where the Dutch came up short.