Jol: England better than Holland

Tottenham Hotspur's Dutch manager Martin Jol believes England have a better team than the Netherlands and says they should be among the contenders to win the World Cup.

"I think if England play at the top of their game they are a better side (than Holland)," Jol told reporters on Thursday after the final round of World Cup qualifiers. "But they didn't do that and we did."

England eventually won Group Six after struggling through a stop-start campaign in which there were disagreements about the best formation, resulting in an embarrassing defeat in Northern Ireland.

The Netherlands breezed through the qualifiers, winning 10 and drawing two of 12 matches and scoring 27 goals while conceding three to finish five points clear of the Czech Republic, who they beat twice, in Group One.

"They are still moaning in Holland because they had two draws against Macedonia," said Jol.

"But I think that is good because if you want to create top players you have to be very, very critical and honest.

"I think you can judge (the potential of the Dutch team) when they play against the likes of Argentina and Brazil and England because, like England, Holland did not play in the best group."

Asked if the nine-place gap in the world rankings between the Netherlands in second and England was justified, Jol said: "It's because they haven't lost for 15 games and then you go (up) places in the rankings.

"In Holland they say, 'We don't have the best players but we play as a team'. If (Chelsea winger Arjen) Robben is not there we are still very vulnerable because then we don't seem to play well.

"If Robben is there he's always scoring the first goal and giving us that extra spark and you need that. (Wayne) Rooney is probably the same player for England.

"Holland play in the same formation all the time. If England get the chance to do that I think they will be one of the contenders (to win the World Cup)."

Asked where his loyalties would be if England met the Dutch, given that a number of Spurs players including captain Ledley King are in the England squad, Jol said: "I am orange and I will always be."