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Portugal vs. Netherlands: Which Team Has the Brighter World Cup Hopes Right Now?
Published: August 13, 2013
Both the Netherlands (No. 5) and Portugal (No. 7) are among the top 10 sides in the world according to FIFA's ranking system.
Since the turn of the century, each team has proven to be a force to be respected in major tournaments.
The Dutch have made two European Championship semi-finals since 2000 and advanced to the World Cup final in 2010 in South Africa, where they were edged in extra time by Spain.
Portugal, in the same period, have never failed to make it into the knockout stages of the European Championships, finishing fourth, fifth, second and third in the last four editions of that tournament.
They also made it to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup.
Despite boasting an impressive record in recent tournaments, neither Portugal nor the Netherlands have managed to capitalize on their consistently strong playing rosters by going all the way in a major championship.
The Netherlands famously won Euro 1988 with a tremendous team containing the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, but they have gone trophy-less since.
The Portuguese, meanwhile, have never won the ultimate prize at a senior international tournament.
So which of these two proven big guns has the best chance of ending their painful barren spell and lifting the World Cup trophy in Brazil in 2014?
The international friendly between the teams on Wednesday will give an indication of how each is progressing less than a year out from the World Cup.
Let's take a look at the squads.
The Netherlands
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Kenneth Vermeer (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City).
Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Joris Mathijsen (Feyenoord), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord), Paul Verhaegh (FC Aug...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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