By Gary Lineker BBC's Match of the Day presenter

What the Dutch needed was a bit more courage when the going got tough at Euro 2004.

So many great players, so much talent, but yet again so little to show for it.

What Dick Advocaat was doing taking off his best players versus the Czechs I'll never know. Losing after being 2-0 up nearly derailed their whole campaign.

But they sneaked out of their group when Germany failed to beat the Czech Republic, were back on track and it was full steam ahead.

Or so we thought.

They barely pulled out of the station thereafter, squeezing into the semis after putting their penalty jinx behind them and then hitting the buffers against Portugal.

As at Euro 2000, they got off the tournament rollercoaster ride a stop early. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar and Arjen Robben deserved better.