This article is part of the Guardian's World Cup 2014 Experts' Network, a co-operation between 32 of the best media organisations from the countries who have qualified for the finals in Brazil. theguardian.com is running previews from four countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 12 June.

The Oranje are likely to play a 5-3 2 system in Brazil. Louis van Gaal, an admirer of the former great Dutch coach Rinus Michels, feels compelled to try tactical experimentation and tends strongly to a new system. That would mean that Holland will not play by the usual 4-3-3 with one or two offensive midfielders, let alone the offensive version of the classic Dutch 3-4-3, with which they twice reached the final of the World Cup in 1974 and 1978.

So far, Louis van Gaal have used the 4-3-3 in World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches but since the friendly defeat against France he has lost the midfielder Kevin Strootman.

This Roma player took care to balance the Dutch three-man midfield with his defensive and offensive qualities. Without him and without – Van Gaal's words - "an adequate substitute", the coach is forced to experiment and will almost certainly opt for the 5-3 2 system which can turn easily to a 3-5-2, an offensive variant and therefore better suited to the Dutch style.

The system has been used, for example, by Feyenoord in their last eight league games with the coach and former Holland international Ronald Koeman. The team won seven matches in a row with a goal difference of 20-2 to steal one of the Champions League qualifying spots.

Juventus also use 5-3-2, but where the Italians opt for a playmaker (Andrea Pirlo) in front of the defence; Holland will choose two defensive players (Nigel de Jong and Jordy Clasie) with a playmaker (Wesley Sneijder now that Rafael van der Vaart is injured) in front of them.

The Dutch team has internationals who are very well suited to a 5 -3- 2 system . When the played four at the back, all the defenders – the right-back Daryl Janmaat, the centre-backs being two from Ron Vlaar, Stefan de Vrij, Joel Veltman, Bruno Martins Indi and Terence Kongolo, and the left-back Daley Blind look vulnerable.

With three centre-backs -either De Vrij or Joel Veltman on the right, Vlaar in the middle, and either Martins Indi or Kongolo on the left – the gaps between them are smaller and they have the additional cover of the full-backs Janmaat and Blind. They are the two runners in the new system and also have significant attacking responsibility. The attacking impetus in 5-3-2, is more surprising and contains many more features.

In front of the five players at the back is a block with two defensive midfielders, De Jong and Clasie, who are mainly there to preserve the balance, to support the defence and allow the wing-backs to attack. And to support the third, more attacking midfielder, now likely to be Wesley Sneijder. He will be the playmaker, the focal point of possession,and the main source of supply to the two strikers, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben .

The captain (Van Persie) and vice-captain will benefit from the new system because they get all the space and freedom they desire. The rest of the team play to provide for this leading pair that have so often proven to make a difference in matches at the highest level. In a 4-3-3 system, they have often found their space limited , but now all running lines are open for the two Dutch superstars.

However, every disadvantage has its advantage, Johan Cruyff would say. The loss of Strootman gives Van Gaal freedom without much debate to change tactics from the original Dutch 4-3-3 to a more Italian and South American 5-3-2-system which gives Van Gaal's two best players more space to be decisive. It's a predictable defensive system, but an unpredictable offensive one. Holland hope to make it work as all their individual skills will be needed against opponents of the calibre of Spain and Chile in the group stage.

If the 5-3-2 does not gel, Van Gaal may return to a 4 3-3 which means the chances are that players such as Sneijder will not play much in Brazil. Van Gaal's opinion is that Sneijder and Van der Vaart, who is now injured, do not do enough defensively when they do not have possession, which makes the side vulnerable. With a 5-3-2-system he can forestall that problem and gets the quality of those two as extra attacking weapons.

Who is the player who is going to surprise everyone at the World Cup?

Daryl Janmaat. After a difficult debut he has developed into a very offensive right-back, with good stamina, drive and a great cross. Nicknamed, by some, as the Dutch Dani Alves.

Who is the player who is going to disappoint the most?

Ron Vlaar didn't have the best of seasons with Aston Villa but is the only Dutch central defender who was a regular all season at a club in a top league and the only one with tournament experience. An easy target to blame when things go wrong defensively.

What is the realistic aim for your team at the World Cup and why?

Second round. Holland can make it through the group stage behind Spain, but Brazil won't forget to end things this time around (like they did in 2010).

Valentijn Driessen writes for the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf

Click here to read a profile of Bruno Martins Indi

Click here to read the secrets of the Holland players