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Goalkeepers
Edwin van der Sar (Fulham)
Ronald Waterreus (PSV Eindhoven)
Sander Westerveld (Real Sociedad)
Defenders
Wilfred Bouma (PSV Eindhoven)
Jaap Stam (Lazio)
Frank de Boer (Glasgow Rangers)
Giovanni Bronckhorst (Barcelona)
John Heitinga (Ajax)
Michael Reiziger (Barcelona)
Midfielders
Paul Bosvelt (Manchester City)
Phillip Cocu (Barcelona)
Edgar Davis (Barcelona)
Boudewijn Zenden (Middlesborough)
Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Marc Overmars (Barcelona)
Wesley Sneijder (Ajax)
Andy van der Meyde (Inter)
Forwards
Patrick Kluivert (Barcelona)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United)
Wesley Sneidjer (Ajax)
Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich)
Pierre van Hooijdonk (Fenerbahce)
Arjen Robben (PSV Eindhoven)

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Between the Semi-finals of Euro 2004 two of the games most famous strikers will share a birthday, as both reach the supposed footballing peak of twenty eight, not only do they share the same day, and same year, but the same country of birth. With Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Patrick Kluivert all similarities terminated at birth because with these two you could not find such a diverse pair of players in matters of background, personality, style and achievement. The two come from opposing ends of the Dutch football ladder.  

Two Roads diverged
It is probably a reason why they don’t and maybe can’t play together, as not the best of this era, Patrick Kluivert has achieved all that boys dream of, famously announcing his arrival as a fresh faced 18 year old to score the only goal of the 1995 Champions League Final for Ajax against AC Milan, Kluivert from a much trodden path, born in Amsterdam to Surinamese parents, and schooled the Ajax way, the road to top class football was mapped out.
A dream move to the San Siro saw too many front-page headlines that would sabotage his on field performances, and so a transfer to Catalan giants Barcelona saw Kluivert reach superstar status and with his 39 goals from 79 appearances, he would eclipse Denis Bergkamp’s goal-scoring record of 37 goals for Holland.

A long and winding road 
Van Nistelrooy born in Oss a small town in the centre of Holland, had a very different path to stardom, playing his way out of second division sides, moving to first Division SC Heerenveen before the move that set his career going, a record Dutch transfer of £4.2 million to PSV Eindhoven, but still the road to the top seemed to be avoiding him, even after Manchester United signed him, tragedy struck as Van Nistelrooy suffered a career threatening cruciate ligament injury, putting the move on hold, Alex Ferguson was patient with the striker, however Holland’s failure to reach the 2002 World Cup has meant that Euro 2004 will be Van Nistelrooy’s first international tournament.

Cometh the Hour
Crashing back down to earth after the Play-off defeat to Scotland the brilliant orange had to be at their very best and not provide the ammunition for the doubters who question their spirit and team ethic!
The manner of the result may end up being the point that changed the future of Dutch football. What ensued was a classy six goal drubbing of the Scots, and with the omission of Kluivert as he and coach watched from the sidelines and witnessed a superb Van Nistelrooy’s hat trick. The stage is set for Van Nistelrooy to prove his unquestionable class and although his journey was the less travelled path to the top he has arrived now and ready to make his mark on a stage that he was born to play on, and that has made all the difference!