Today: Talking KNVB, Cruyff and all things Dutch

I really don’t know much about my lineage. But I’m sure there’s a randy Dutchman or a Holland belle back there somewhere.

My girlfriend teases me all the time about my shameless fascination for all things Oranje.

Of course, it’s really all about soccer, about how a relatively small land produces so many elegant players. It's all about the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond. You know it as the KNVB – because you don't speak Dutch. Neither do I; but never mind that.

When I was a wee little Dutch wanna-be, I was fascinated by the 1978 World Cup and this obscure (in my mind) nation’s ability to stand up to the big boys. That was back in the Clockwork Orange salad days, as the lowland’s concepts of Total Football and its innovative developmental ways produced such technically proficient young players.

I was only 12 at the time, but my proclivity to root for underdog was already strong. So this team in Orange that may have been the best in the world in 1974 (but lost the final to the hosts, Germany) and may have been the best in 1978 (but lost the final to the hosts, Argentina) consumed me.

A year later I was sticking pictures of my favorite player, Johan Cruyff, up on my bedroom wall and circling the dates when I could go see him play with the L.A. Aztecs. I wore the jersey No. 14 for my club and imitated Cruyff’s dribble.

There was a time when I could pretty much name the 1974 and 1978 starting lineups in those World Cup finals. I could probably make a good run at it even now – give or take a few missed vowels.

When I was in college, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and others were showing the rest of Europe what’s what.

Why all of this Dutch treatment today? It seems there’s an extra dosing of Netherlands soccer in the news lately.

Two days ago U.S. Soccer announced that Bob Bradley’s bunch will face Holland on March 3 at the Amsterdam Arena (been there!) in Amsterdam. It’s an important outing, as March 3 is the only 2010 FIFA date before teams begin reporting for World Cup training camps. That makes it a fairly important match, as friendlies go.

There is also a recent groundswell of sentiment for Holland as an outsider favorite to claim its first World Cup. Paul Kennedy in Soccer America seems to fancy the Netherlands, citing depth that may be equaled only by Spain.

Then, last night, unrelated to any of the above, I got into a big debate with a pal who wanted to proclaim Holland as his "dark horse" pick to win the World Cup. My contention: the world’s third-ranked team, a side that has appeared in two World Cup finals, a team that is tied for fourth in oddsmakers’ assessment of South African favorites can hardly be called a "dark horse." We compromised on something like Holland as "the top choice to be a first-time winner," although Spanish fans will certainly take umbrage at such a proclamation.

My local World Cup expert likes Holland’s chances next summer. Like Asia 2002, this one figures to be a bit all over the place in terms of following history. That makes it a wide open field, and Holland has a relatively easy first-round group. That matters in a tournament that tests stamina, and one where yellow card accumulation invariably becomes an issue.

Given the Dutch depth, the players’ comfort with cold temperatures (remember, it’ll be winter in South Africa) and the fact that Holland was unbeaten and untied in qualifying, there seems to be some substance in the sentiment.

Of course, that could just be my inner Dutchman talking.