Arjen Robben has shone. Robin Van Persie has also performed well. Yet the biggest star for the Netherlands at this World Cup has probably been manager Louis Van Gaal.
His timely tactical changes and substitutions have helped a previously unfancied Holland to within a step of the World Cup final and according to Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football author and Dutch football expert David Winner, winning the tournament would lift Van Gaal above other Dutch managerial greats.
"If they do go all the way, then the argument is over about who is the greatest Dutch coach ever. It would be Louis. He would consign Rinus Michels, Cruyff and Guus Hiddink to fighting for the other places."
Winner is also impressed by the team spirit and belief evident in the team and also spoke about the relative indiscipline of the 1974 team which reached the World Cup final.
"Even last time [in 2010] there were tensions behind the scenes," said Winner, alluding to problems between Van Persie and Wesley Sneijder.
He also gave his take on the psychological genius of Van Gaal's decision to substitute Japser Cillessen and bring on Tim Krul ahead of the penalty shootout against Costa Rica.
Winner also spoke about why Johan Cruyff really refused to play at the 1978 World Cup and whether that was really political, personal or a mixture of the two. He also went on to discuss the stories behind that year's final against Argentina.
