<p>Netherlands will be presented with an immediate reminder of the heartbreak they suffered four years ago when they start the World Cup with a rematch of the 2010 final against Spain in Salvador on the second day of the tournament.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The match on June 13, is a heavyweight start to the campaign for the Dutch who have many key elements left in their team from the extra-time defeat in Johannesburg four years ago, but also a clutch of younger and less experienced players.<br /><br />The key encounter in Group B for the Dutch could come after they have played Spain and Australia, in Sao Paulo on June 23, when they meet Chile at the conclusion of a tough opening round. Coach Louis van Gaal, who took over after a disappointing Euro 2012 in which the 'Oranje' lost all their group matches, has made a point of introducing younger talent, capping 25 new players in his 19 games in charge since August 2012.<br /><br />But the likes of Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart have remained a constant under Van Gaal, who is in his second spell in charge.<br /><br />The Dutch were the first of the European countries to qualify for the finals in Brazil, beating Italy by 20 minutes on the night of September 10, steaming through a relatively easy preliminary group by winning their first six matches and eventually dropping just two points in 10 games.<br /><br />The highlight was an 8-1 thumping of Hungary in Amsterdam last October, which included a hat-trick from Van Persie. <br /><br />A positive for the Dutch is that the Manchester United striker is likely to be relatively fresh after a lengthy hiatus at club level, during which he was sidelined with a knee injury.<br /><br />But Robben, another key player, will likely need nurturing after a long season with Bayern Munich. His participation in the last World Cup was touch and go after he suffered a hamstring injury on the eve of the finals. <br /><br />The Dutch will also be looking for inspiration from Van der Vaart, who has had a disappointing Bundesliga season with struggling Hamburg, and Turkey-based Wesley Sneijder. Van Gaal dropped Sneijder as captain last year after insisting he needed to be fitter to command a place in the Dutch side.<br /><br />Nigel de Jong has returned from injury as a midfield enforcer, a prospect that might fill some of the Spaniards with dread before the opening group match at the Arena Fonte Nova.<br /><br />Extensive preparations have gone into the Dutch bid to win the World Cup after the bitter disappointment of yet another runners-up berth four years ago, including upgrading facilities at the Flamengo complex they will use as their base.<br /><br />Looking further back too, the Dutch may take some inspiration from another, ultimately failed attempt to win the World Cup, but one in which they delighted the world.<br /><br />Victory in Brazil would not only give Van Gaal his greatest prize, but also expunge their unwanted tag of the best country never to be world champions.<br /></p>
<p>Netherlands will be presented with an immediate reminder of the heartbreak they suffered four years ago when they start the World Cup with a rematch of the 2010 final against Spain in Salvador on the second day of the tournament.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The match on June 13, is a heavyweight start to the campaign for the Dutch who have many key elements left in their team from the extra-time defeat in Johannesburg four years ago, but also a clutch of younger and less experienced players.<br /><br />The key encounter in Group B for the Dutch could come after they have played Spain and Australia, in Sao Paulo on June 23, when they meet Chile at the conclusion of a tough opening round. Coach Louis van Gaal, who took over after a disappointing Euro 2012 in which the 'Oranje' lost all their group matches, has made a point of introducing younger talent, capping 25 new players in his 19 games in charge since August 2012.<br /><br />But the likes of Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart have remained a constant under Van Gaal, who is in his second spell in charge.<br /><br />The Dutch were the first of the European countries to qualify for the finals in Brazil, beating Italy by 20 minutes on the night of September 10, steaming through a relatively easy preliminary group by winning their first six matches and eventually dropping just two points in 10 games.<br /><br />The highlight was an 8-1 thumping of Hungary in Amsterdam last October, which included a hat-trick from Van Persie. <br /><br />A positive for the Dutch is that the Manchester United striker is likely to be relatively fresh after a lengthy hiatus at club level, during which he was sidelined with a knee injury.<br /><br />But Robben, another key player, will likely need nurturing after a long season with Bayern Munich. His participation in the last World Cup was touch and go after he suffered a hamstring injury on the eve of the finals. <br /><br />The Dutch will also be looking for inspiration from Van der Vaart, who has had a disappointing Bundesliga season with struggling Hamburg, and Turkey-based Wesley Sneijder. Van Gaal dropped Sneijder as captain last year after insisting he needed to be fitter to command a place in the Dutch side.<br /><br />Nigel de Jong has returned from injury as a midfield enforcer, a prospect that might fill some of the Spaniards with dread before the opening group match at the Arena Fonte Nova.<br /><br />Extensive preparations have gone into the Dutch bid to win the World Cup after the bitter disappointment of yet another runners-up berth four years ago, including upgrading facilities at the Flamengo complex they will use as their base.<br /><br />Looking further back too, the Dutch may take some inspiration from another, ultimately failed attempt to win the World Cup, but one in which they delighted the world.<br /><br />Victory in Brazil would not only give Van Gaal his greatest prize, but also expunge their unwanted tag of the best country never to be world champions.<br /></p>