WHEN it comes to the World Cup, Holland have all too often been to squad unity what England are to penalty-taking.

Rarely a tournament goes by without stories emerging from inside the Dutch camp of a simmering discontent that threatens to undermine the undoubted talent at the country’s disposal.

John Heitinga, though, is convinced there will be no such problems when Holland aim for glory in South Africa this summer.

Bert van Marwijk’s side will be regarded as dangerous outsiders after romping through their European qualifying group, securing a 100% record while ending the hopes of Scotland and Norway.

And Heitinga, who enjoyed an excellent debut season for Everton since arriving from Atletico Madrid last August, believes this group of players has learned from the mistakes of past Holland squads.

“We want to keep everything within four walls but in previous tournaments there’s always been something,” he says. “In the last one (at Euro 2008) a player’s wife (Khalid Boulahrouz) was pregnant and the baby died.

“But we’ve played together with the same team and when there’s a disappointment we’re better equipped to handle it. For the team it’s how strong you are for the games.

“It’s better all the faces are staring in one direction for the tournament because you only have one chance every four years to win the title.”

Hopes are high within the Dutch camp of a successful tournament, with the advantage they arrive in South Africa without the burden of pressure heaped on their near rivals.

“With the squad we have I hope we can win it, but it’s difficult,” says Heitinga. “That’s our goal though. Now we have had (Robin) van Persie injured, so we will see how he recovers. But we still have a good team, with people like (Wesley) Schneider and (Rafael) van der Vaart, and a lot of the players are 26, 27 or 28, when they should be at their peak. Hopefully we can show the world we are the best.

“There is more pressure in England than in Holland. Holland’s a small country and for many years England – looking at the players they have – usually could win the tournament.

“But there’s been a lot of pressure on the English team for many years.”

Having been drawn alongside Denmark, Cameroon and Japan in the group stages, Holland will fancy their chances to progress deeper into the tournament.

That said, the Dutch have flattered to deceive in recent World Cups. They failed to qualify in 2002 and, with Heitinga in the team, reached only the last 16 four years ago in Germany before being dumped out in a brutal game against Portugal.

It was a similar story in the European Championships two years ago, when a scintillating display in the group stages came to a shuddering halt with defeat in the quarter-finals to Russia.

“Two years ago we were in with Italy, France and Romania and played well,” says Heitinga. “Then, after the group stage, we lost to Russia, so it’s hard.

“I would first like us to win the group stage but then there are so many big teams you could face like Brazil, Argentina and England.

There is a strong Merseyside presence in the Dutch squad, with Heitinga joined by Liverpool duo Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

Kuyt has been a mainstay of the Holland team since making his debut in 2004 but Babel’s place was in doubt until an improved second half of the campaign at Anfield bolstered his claims.

And Heitinga believes his season in the Premier League has proven the ideal preparation for South Africa.

“My time with Everton has prepared me well as some of the top players in the World Cup play in the Premier League,” he says.

“It is good for a defender to play against the likes of Rooney and Drogba.”