The 2010 World Cup runners-up couldn’t have asked for a tougher start to the tournament as the Netherlands take on the team that defeated them in the final, Spain.

For Holland, their preparation for the 2014 World Cup has been overshadowed by manager Louis van Gaal’s future. With the 61-year-old announcing that he will step down after the finals, he looks set to take over the vacant Manchester United job and every press conference has been dominated by questions from the English press as to when he will announce himself as the next United boss.

On the field is where the focus should be though. Qualification was easy, winning all but one game in their group and scoring 34 goals in the process.

They only conceded five goals but that was expected considering they had one of the easier qualifying groups.

The real test will come in Brazil as they battle to qualify out of a group featuring Spain and the ever-impressive Chile.

The Dutch side is growing old and doesn’t boast as many superstars as it has in the past. They failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan with Van Gaal in charge and the manager left for Barcelona only to return in 2012.

With a large number of players plying their trade in the Dutch league and the experienced players the wrong side of 30, Van Gaal knows how difficult his task will be and has already played down his side’s chances this summer.

“According to the Fifa rankings, we are eighth or 10th,” said Van Gaal back in March.

“It doesn’t matter which but we are not one of the favourites.

“I view Brazil and Argentina and from Europe Spain and Germany as the favourites.

“We consider ourselves as outsiders. I arrived as coach (after the Euro) with certain targets: qualify for the finals and then reach the semi-finals.

“However, the semi-finals will be a really hard goal to achieve.”

To combat the ageing squad Van Gaal is likely to have a relatively young back five out in Brazil.

In goal is likely to be Ajax’s Jesper Cillessen despite reports that Van Gaal prefers Ajax back-up keeper Kenneth Vermeer.

24-year-old Feyenoord defender Daryl Janmaat is the preferred right-back with Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar being the most experienced defender at the age of 28 alongside him.

Vlaar’s experience will be vital as the manager tends to pair him alongside 21-year-old Bruno Martins Indi who is currently at Feyenoord but has picked up interest from a number of Premier League clubs.

Assistant manager Danny Blind’s son Daley is just ahead of Paris Saint-Germain’s Gregory van der Weil at left-back. 

Recently named captain Robin van Persie has struggled for fitness this season but will be heavily relied upon to lead his nation to glory come July 13.

The injury to instrumental Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman has meant that Van Gaal will have to rely on AC Milan destroyer Nigel de Jong and Norwich’s Leroy Fer.

Ahead of them is likely to be the 31-year-old Rafael van der Vaart, 30-year-old Arjen Robben and 29-year-old Wesley Sneijder.

All three have the ability to change a game in an instant but none are known for their defensive duties and Robben often finds it difficult to pass the ball to team-mates. If they can find their rhythm then Holland are capable of being on the most feared teams in Brazil.

If not, they may find themselves back home sooner than they think.

Holland 30-man provisional squad — 

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle), Jeroen Zoet (PSV Eindhoven), Michel Vorm (Swansea) 

Defenders: Patrick van Aanholt (Vitesse), Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Karim Rekik (PSV Eindhoven), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (Augsburg), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord) 

Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich), Jonathan de Guzman (Swansea), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven) 

Strikers: Jean-Paul Boetius (Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Schalke), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev), Robin van Persie (Manchester United), Quincy Promes (FC Twente), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich).