Holland is represented by four coaches at the World Cup: Dick Advocaat, Leo Beenhakker, Guus Hiddink and Marco van Basten. Of course, Marco van Basten is the coach of the national squad of Holland, but the rest coach other countrie squalified at the World Cup, repsectively South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago and Australia.

Leo has brought professionalism and organisation to the team
Shaka Hislop (TRI)
The first of the Dutch coaches to take their bow was the 63-year-old Beenhakker. His Trinidad and Tobago side were widely expected to suffer defeat at the hands of Sweden in their first game, but they ground out a goalless draw despite being reduced to ten men for the majority of the second half. The Soca Warriors’ display was full of energy and desire, the performances of captain Dwight Yorke and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop inspired. Yet the tournament’s biggest surprise to date was not simply due to good fortune, but more to the diligence of ‘Don Leo.’

Once Van Basten came, a revolution took place
Ruud van Nistlerooij (NED)
Despite their easy-going stereotype, it seems that the Netherlands national team has suffered due to ill-timed internal disputes at major tournaments over the past decade. With the appointment of Van Basten, a UEFA European Championship winner as a player, those days appear to be long gone. He has moulded a well-balanced Oranje team, hungry for success and one that is full of running, traits displayed in the 1-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro in Leipzig. With Chelsea midfielder Arjen Robben in fine form, plus their good record on German soil, this tournament could be one to remember for the Dutch.

He’s a genius. What he did against Japan was a masterstroke
Lucas Neill (AUS)
Hiddink’s reputation seems to be growing with every FIFA World Cup. After guiding the Netherlands to a semi-final place at France 98, he remarkably took Korea Republic to the same stage four years later. When he replaced Frank Farina as coach in July 2005, few believed that he could steer the Socceroos to a win, never mind out of the group stage. After seeing his side come from behind to defeat Japan 3-1, a few people are reassessing their original predictions. The latter stages of the game saw Hiddink bring on three substitutes: John Aloisi, Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy. His ambitious move paid off as the trio had a hand in Australia’s three goals. It left the former PSV Eindhoven manager celebrating on the touchline and millions of Australians back home dancing with delight.

Mr Advocaat’s tactics are good, he can turn things around
Ahn Jung-Hwan (KOR)
Completing the quartet is Advocaat, who managed to equal Hiddink’s achievement in Frankfurt as his Korea Republic side fought back from a 1-0 deficit against Togo to win the game 2-1. Like Hiddink, an effective substitution was the key, as his decision to bring on Ahn reaped its rewards when the 30-year-old striker scored the winning goal. Following the match, Advocaat gave his players two days off to spend with their families. Whether his side can repay his good nature remains to be seen, but it seems that Advocaat, together with the rest of the Dutch coaches at Germany 2006 seem to be keeping their squads onside.

Source: WCoffsite