The 2010 World Cup was a great success for the Holland national team despite their loss to Spain in the final.
Expected to do well by critics worldwide, the Oranje exceeded that anticipation to be runners-up for the third time in their history.
Recent tournaments have seen the Dutch be thereabouts but in South Africa they took matters into their own hands only to fall agonisingly short at the final hurdle.
Their loss to Spain was their first in 26 matches and their only result less than a win in seven World Cup matches which must be applauded by onlookers everywhere.
Of course, there is disappointment after a loss of such magnitude, but second place is certainly not a failure as was outlined by retiring captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
"We've come so close, and that's the biggest disappointment," he told FIFA.com. "If we'd taken one of our chances, we might well have gone on to win. But I'm still proud of this team."
Finished: Runners-up Record: Wins - 6; Draws - 0; Losses - 1; Points - 9 Matches: Denmark (2-0), Japan (1-0), Cameroon (2-1), RO16-Slovakia (2-1), QF-Brazil (2-1), SF-Uruguay (3-2), F-Spain (0-1) Goals: 12 Against: 6
tribalfootball.com's Star ManWesley Sneijder (Was simply sublime with five goals and was one of the tournaments best)
Official statistics
Minutes played Mark van Bommel 660 Maarten Stekelenburg 660 Wesley Sneijder 652 Johnny Heitinga 649
Top scorersWesley Sneijder 5 Arjen Robben 2 Dirk Kuyt 1 Robin van Persie 1 Klaas Jan Huntelaar 1 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 1
Total shotsWesley Sneijder 27 Robin van Persie 16 Dirk Kuyt 12 Arjen Robben 11
Pass Completion RateNigel de Jong 79% Joris Mathijsen 77% Gregory van der Wiel 76% Johnny Heitinga 76% Mark van Bommel 76%
Most Fouls Mark van Bommel 17 Wesley Sneijder 15 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 13 Robin van Persie 11
Yellow cardsGregory van der Wiel 3 Nigel de Jong 3 Arjen Robben 2 Robin van Persie 2 Giovanni van Bronckhorst 2 Mark van Bommel 2 Maarten Stekelenburg 1 Andre Ooijer 1 Khalid Boulahrouz 1 Rafael van der Vaart 1 Joris Mathijsen 1 Johnny Heitinga 1 Dirk Kuyt 1 Wesley Sneijder 1
Red cardsJohnny Heitinga 1 (2 yellow cards)
SavesMaarten Stekelenburg 19
