MTNFootball

There are great expectations from the Netherlands as they head into their 14th UEFA Euro Championships.

The1988 winners arrive in Ukraine where they will be bracing themselves for fire in the group of death in Group B that comprises of three-time champions Germany, 1992 winners Denmark and 2004 runners-up Portugal.

Heading into a difficult preliminary stage, Coach Bert van Marwijk should still feel upbeat after overseeing an Oranje revolution since he took charge in 2008 from the great Marco van Basten.

The highlight of course was Netherlands reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup final in South Africa where they lost to Spain, falling for a third time at the pinnacle of the competition.

And if you thought van Marwijk’s side had no juice left in their system after South Africa, just checkout their record en route to Poland and Ukraine.

The Dutch won nine and lost just one of their qualifying games and were the Euro 2012 qualifiers most prolific team with 37 goals.

Netherlands' attack still looks red hot, led by Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar who's their top scorer for the team with 12 goals in the qualifiers. He should be well complemented by Arsenal’s hit man Robin Van Persie and Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben.

"We have won nine in a row and advanced as group winners," Van Marwijk said after sealing progress with a 1-0 victory over Moldova with a game to spare.

"Still, the feeling in the dressing room was one of disappointment. There was champagne, but no one drank it. I think that is a positive thing."

Not a surprising attitude for a team that takes great pride in its total football but battling with its demons as underachievers.