The sad news on Thursday of the death of Johan Cruyff sent me back to David Winner’s Brilliant Orange, a book as unconventional and imaginative as the Dutch football culture which it investigates and celebrates.

Steve McClaren has urged his Holland stars to put their international misery behind them and help to kick-start Newcastle’s Barclays Premier League season.

Wales are poised to end their 58-year wait to play at a major tournament after Gareth Bale’s late winner on a balmy night in Nicosia.

Chris Coleman believes Wales are on the brink of “something special” and beating Belgium tonight (7.45pm, Live on Sky Sports 5) would prove it as victory would put them among the top seeds for next month’s 2018 World Cup draw.

Holland 2 Spain 0

Holland came from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-1 at the Amsterdam ArenA and get their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign up and running.

Daley Blind thinks Louis van Gaal’s brutally honest ways will help him become a much better player.

New Holland coach Guus Hiddink had asked for captain Robin van Persie to work out his differences with Pierre van Hooijdonk.

Sergio Romero came back to haunt Louis van Gaal as Argentina beat Holland on penalties to reach the World Cup final.

Holland goalkeeper Tim Krul is ecstatic to be in the semi-finals of the World Cup after his dramatic introduction to the tournament.

Holland’s substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul dramatically made two saves in a penalty shoot-out against Costa Rica to carry his side into the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Arjen Robben has escaped punishment from Fifa after he admitted diving during the Netherlands’ late win over Mexico — a "stupid action" the winger hopes everyone can move on from.

RTÉ’S RATING WAR MASKS THE REAL ONE

Holland will on Monday meet Chile in a play-off for top spot in Group B after World Cup holders Spain crashed out of the tournament.

WORLD CUP GROUP B:

Australia 2 Holland 3

The Netherlands are more streetwise now than when they tackled Spain in the 2010 World Cup final, according to national captain, Robin van Persie.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal has dropped a fresh hint that he would welcome an approach from Tottenham following the World Cup finals.

Munster and Ulster rugby players thumbed lifts and cross-dressed their way around the country this week, all in the name of team-building. But does the concept work?

World Cup qualifiers - roundup

Chris Coleman earned his first win as Wales manager as a double from Gareth Bale secured all three points in a 2-1 win over Scotland.

Holland coach Louis van Gaal played down concerns over the fitness of Robin van Persie after the Manchester United striker was replaced at half-time during last night’s World Cup qualifying victory over Hungary.

Lukas Podolski insists Arsenal can mount a sustained assault on the Barclays Premier League title – but whether captain Robin van Persie will lead the challenge remains to be seen.

Louis van Gaal has been appointed Netherlands coach until the 2014 World Cup, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) have announced.

Marco van Basten insists he has no interest in returning to manage Holland after the departure of Bert van Marwijk following the team’s woeful performance at the European Championship.

Come back England, all is forgiven.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben has hinted dressing room unrest undermined their Euro 2012 challenge which ended on Sunday night following a third successive defeat.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben has hinted dressing room unrest undermined their Euro 2012 challenge which ended last night following a third successive defeat.

Notable among the footballers who flocked to praise Ireland’s supporters yesterday was Robin van Persie.

When Holland’s divided and reportedly dysfunctional team lost to Denmark at Euro 2012 a tabloid newspaper back home in the Netherlands ran a headline that read ‘Legoland beat Egoland’; so goodness knows what kind of abuse is heading Bert van Marwijk’s way today after his team lost 2-1 to Germany to stand on the brink of elimination.

Oliver Bierhoff has called for his team to break the habit of their traditional second-game slump when the new tournament favourites Germany face the Netherlands in tonight’s Euro 2012 clash.

Germany coach Joachim Loew felt Mario Gomez’s winning goal in the Euro 2012 victory over Portugal justified his decision to start with the Bayern Munich striker ahead of Miroslav Klose.

The Netherlands 0 Denmark 1

Not long before eight o’clock here, Dimitrios Salpigidis upset what would have been one of the biggest parties Poland has ever seen.

Holland’s black players were allegedly subjected to monkey chants during an open training session in Krakow last night, with captain Mark van Bommel branding the abuse “a real disgrace” on the eve of Euro 2012.

Wesley Sneijder believes reaching the Euro 2012 final is the minimum requirement for Holland this summer.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk has extended his contract by another four years and will now guide Oranje through to the 2016 European Championship finals.

Bert van Marwijk is close to agreeing a new deal which will see him remain as Holland coach until the 2016 European Championship, according to his agent.

Bayern Munich today confirmed star winger Arjen Robben has undergone another operation on his pubic bone.

The Republic of Ireland have moved up two places to 31st in the latest FIFA rankings announced today.

Holland coach Bert van Marwijk is hopeful that Robin van Persie will be fit for Arsenal duty this weekend after suffering an injury on international duty on Tuesday night.

THE return of Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery failed to inspire France as, for the second time in their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, they laboured to a 2-0 win over Luxembourg in Group D.

Hungary 0 Holland 4