Holland coach Bert van Marwijk is adamant his side deserves credit for reaching next year's World Cup despite the perceived weakness of their qualifying group.
The Dutch became the first European nation to qualify thanks to victory over Iceland last night, a result which made it six wins out of six in Group Nine.
Group rivals Scotland, Norway, FYR Macedonia and the Icelandics have provided scant resistance in the face of Van Marwijk's troops, who have hit 14 goals and conceded just two in their qualifying campaign thus far.
Nevertheless, the coach insists Holland's achievement should not be downplayed.
He told RTL Sport: "Everyone said that it was an easy group, but when you win six games in a row, than that deserves a big compliment."
Holland's win in Reykjavik last night was as hard-fought as the 2-1 scoreline suggested.
Goals from Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel put the Dutch in control before Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson headed a late consolation to make for a nervy close to the match after the Dutch failed to fire after the break.
"I have really enjoyed the first half, but a little less in the second half because we missed so many chances," Van Marwijk continued.
"You had to score at least four or five goals against this Iceland team. Iceland are the weakest opponent we have played so far. A margin of two kept things tricky.
"We played too nonchalant at the end of the first half. We overcomplicated things and gave the opponents belief they could win a point."
The coach added that his job had been made easier by the Oranje's early qualification for South Africa.
"I like the fact that we have qualified, that it is done," he said.
"We now have a lot of time to prepare for the World Cup."
Holland's tendency to lose their nerve when it comes to major tournaments will again weigh on the minds of Dutch football's governing body, the KNVB, but that has not stopped the powers-that-be demanding a semi-final appearance as a minimum requirement next year.
"It's fine that people have ambition," Van Marwijk said. "No one has to put pressure on me, I do that myself. You have to play for the highest position, always.
"Do we see this qualification as a prize? Well, if you saw what happened in the changing room, yes. An enormous release of emotions.
"We have manifested ourselves as a real team."
Group rivals Scotland, Norway, FYR Macedonia and the Icelandics have provided scant resistance in the face of Van Marwijk's troops, who have hit 14 goals and conceded just two in their qualifying campaign thus far.
Nevertheless, the coach insists Holland's achievement should not be downplayed.
He told RTL Sport: "Everyone said that it was an easy group, but when you win six games in a row, than that deserves a big compliment."
Holland's win in Reykjavik last night was as hard-fought as the 2-1 scoreline suggested.
Goals from Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel put the Dutch in control before Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson headed a late consolation to make for a nervy close to the match after the Dutch failed to fire after the break.
"I have really enjoyed the first half, but a little less in the second half because we missed so many chances," Van Marwijk continued.
"You had to score at least four or five goals against this Iceland team. Iceland are the weakest opponent we have played so far. A margin of two kept things tricky.
"We played too nonchalant at the end of the first half. We overcomplicated things and gave the opponents belief they could win a point."
The coach added that his job had been made easier by the Oranje's early qualification for South Africa.
"I like the fact that we have qualified, that it is done," he said.
"We now have a lot of time to prepare for the World Cup."
Holland's tendency to lose their nerve when it comes to major tournaments will again weigh on the minds of Dutch football's governing body, the KNVB, but that has not stopped the powers-that-be demanding a semi-final appearance as a minimum requirement next year.
"It's fine that people have ambition," Van Marwijk said. "No one has to put pressure on me, I do that myself. You have to play for the highest position, always.
"Do we see this qualification as a prize? Well, if you saw what happened in the changing room, yes. An enormous release of emotions.
"We have manifested ourselves as a real team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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