Van Basten's side undergo a makeover

Titisee: Coach Marco van Basten has got the Dutch players pulling together for once and been rewarded with a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

Van Basten took charge in 2004 and has ditched big names like Patrick Kluivert and Clarence Seedorf.

His young squad has so far managed to avoid the internal squabbles that have marred so many Dutch campaigns in the past.

The Dutch have beaten Serbia & Montenegro 1-0 and the Ivory Coast 2-1, qualifying for the second round before Wednesday's final Group C match against Argentina.

Van Basten, one of the great players of his generation, is pleased with the progress so far, but sees room for improvement.

"Against Ivory Coast we did not play well in the second half but the team showed spirit and kept fighting and that makes me proud to see a real team," he said.

"But it is not only the spirit that is important, we also want to dominate and control matches completely and during the first two matches that still was not satisfying. We are trying to improve that not only in the training sessions but also by showing and discussing videos."

The Dutch, beaten World Cup finalists in 1974 and 1978, have an unhappy history of disputes at major tournaments.

Van Basten experienced this first hand in 1990 when the then European champions failed to blend as a group and went out in the second round to eventual winners West Germany.

The Dutch reached the World Cup final in Germany in 1974 but lost to the hosts.

Their preparations were disrupted after a German newspaper published colourful reports about a party at their hotel, leaving the players with plenty of explaining to do to their wives and girl friends.

Four years later Johan Cruyff, the central figure in the 1974 team, and midfielder Wim van Hanegem pulled out of the World Cup squad.

A weakened team made it to the final only to lose to hosts Argentina.

Playmaker Rafael van der Vaart, who played his first major tournament at Euro 2004 in Portugal, says everything has changed in the Dutch camp.

"The team spirit has really improved a lot and now it is very special to be part of this team," Van der Vaart said.

"Van Basten is also a younger coach than his predecessors and is close to the squad. He knows exactly what is going on and what we need."