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Cape Town - When the Netherlands opened it's World Cup campaign with a 5-1 drumming of holders Spain, it did more than send a seismic jolt through the tournament.
It also served as a reminder that when the Dutch are on form they can make the best teams in the world look stupid.
How a nation with roughly half the land mass of Indiana became a powerhouse in international soccer has been variously attributed to the country's superior coaching set-up, its progressive politics and even its low-lying topography, which helped to foster a possession-oriented game.
But it may be that what makes the Netherlands such a fearsome football opponent is its long history of success in a decidedly less celebrated endeavor: Field hockey.
It also served as a reminder that when the Dutch are on form they can make the best teams in the world look stupid.
How a nation with roughly half the land mass of Indiana became a powerhouse in international soccer has been variously attributed to the country's superior coaching set-up, its progressive politics and even its low-lying topography, which helped to foster a possession-oriented game.
But it may be that what makes the Netherlands such a fearsome football opponent is its long history of success in a decidedly less celebrated endeavor: Field hockey.
