Euro is on its way. I think this team has a less quality than previous Dutch teams, but I like the combination of youth in the squad. I think it gives the squad an audaciousness it has lacked. 'As for the Group of Death' it is the third time Holland has drawn the hardest group. (Argentina, Cote Divoire, Serbia in 2006 and Germany, Czech and Latvia in 2004.) I like Oranje's chances because only once have they missed out on the second stage and that was back in 1980. My thoughts.

Keepers-Van Der Sar is still first choice and has been class for Man Utd. Stekelngurg is a servicable backup. I never want to see Timmer wearing orange, or blue for that matter, again. He nearly cost us the game against Austria with three errors. Timmer should be replaced and Boschker can fill in for the third keeper spot, or maybe Velthuizen.

Defense-Certainly no Koemans, Staams, Israels, Krols, Suurbiers or Rijkaards in this bunch but they did concede little in qualifying and kept clean against Croatia a little while back. The goals in the match against Austria were due to horrific goalkeeping rather than poor defense, although it could have been better. I would rather see youth on the left with Emanuelson, but he is a bit raw. The rest are pretty interchangeable. Heitinga is a lock at centre back. The rest are of similar quality so it will come down to form when deciding who to start and who to sit.

Midfiel-Herein lies the rub. Will Marco choose the classic 4-3-3, the 4-2-3-1, or a 4-4-2. Starting spaces come down to Gio, Seedorf, Sneijder, VDV and Robben on the wing. A Gio Seedorf combo in midfield will provide a measure of balance and you can try to squeeze in Sneijder, VDV and Robben into attacking roles with a lone centre forward. Or make the tough decision to drop either Sneijder or VDV and allow a talented striker, RVP or Klaas to pair with Ruud. Or throw caution to the wind an dremove Gio and opt for Seedorf, Sneijder, VDV, with Robben and RVP in wide roles and Ruud in the center. The first seems the most likely, even if it sacrifices some up front fire power. I would personally make the difficult decision of dropping either Sneijder or VDV, I lean towards dropping VDV, and putting Gio and Seedorf together with Robben on the wings, allowing for two strikers. Anyways Holland has good midfield players the probles is getting the dangerous ones onto the field without leaving the back four exposed. Affelay is good for pace and creativity off the bench,De Zeuw, Landzaat and Maduro are competing for a spot because one is likely to be dropped.

Forwards-Robben on the wings seems to be a lock, especially considering his current form and his excellence for Oranje at tournaments. The centre forwards are the question. Ruud if healthy is a lock and seeing as his recovery is going well one must assume he will be good to go and looking to make ammends for his poor World Cup. The question is who else. Van Persie if healthy is a great weapon. Seeing as he will likely be fit for he tournament Holland would like his skill on set pieces and creativity. On the other hand Huntelaar has been on fire and scored thrice in his last two call ups. If Holland goes with a stacked midfield they both ride the benceh. As for the rest Babel is a good asset for the bench but starting is likely beyond him unless there is an emergency, same goes for Hesselink and Koevermans. The question is what purpose does Dirk Kuyt serve. He will likely not start and is certainly not one to bring off the bench to score a goal. As a squad player he may not be a terrible addition but he has never performed for Oranje. He is at risk of being dropped when the roster is cut to 26.

So in summation I think we will see a somewhat cautious lineup with Seedorf and Gio in the middle, Robben on one wing, Ruud up front, Sneijder/VDV in the center and RVP on the other wing. It may sound crazy but I would not mind seeing Seedorf and Gio in front of the back four, Robben on a wing, RVP on another with Huntelaar and Ruud up front. How is that for a lineup? Are you reading Marco?

So in all likelihood we will see Seedorf, Gio, Sneijder/VDV, Robben on one wing, RvP on the other and Ruud in the middle. But I hope he tweaks it and have Robben and RVP on the wings and Huntelaar and Ruud up front with on withdrawn.

As for the cuts, I can not see Timmer making it after the disaster in Austria. I am not sure which Defender will get the boot but I could see it happening to de Cler and Melchiot. MVB loves Landzaat so unfortunately he will probably stay, but I think de Zeeuw is gone. Engelaar, Maduro and de Jong are probably competing for two spots. Koevermans will probably not make the cut if everybody is fit, and Kuyt is hanging on by a thread so he is certainly at risk of getting dropped. So Timmer, I would guess Jaliens and maybe de Cler/Melchiot, de Zeeuw, de Jong/Maduro, Engelaar, Koevermans, Kuyt.

My formations.

Likely:

Seedorf-Gio
RVP Sneijder Robben
Ruud

Mad scientist?
Gio
Seedorf
RVP Robben
Huntelaar RVN