Football pundits say that the Dutch national squad is "in perfect balance". And that is not only credited to the coach, Bert van Marwijk. Holland has a secret weapon in the shape of a wristband called Power Balance.
 
It was star player Wesley Sneijder who introduced the hotly discussed wristband to the Orange squad. The five-goal topscorer of the South Africa World Cup tournament  said, "I first thought it was all nonsense, but I really feel better, more balanced." Other players in the Dutch national team have added the white wristband to their orange-coloured outfit, such as Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Rafael van der Vaart and Arjen Robben, who said, "Even if it only improves me by half a percent, I will still wear it." Dirk Kuyt has said he is of exactly the same sentiment.

 
Energy flows
The Power Balance wristband carries two holograms which are said to regulate energy flows in the body, resulting in better balance, more power, flexibility and durability. The product originates in the US.
 
The makers say they rely on "research" and are dropping names of countless athletes who say they draw power from the band. They include basket ball player Shaquille O'Neal and Formula 1-driver Rubens Barichello. Real Madrid player José Maria Guti was one of the first footballers to discover the band and made sure that the amulet became all the rage in Spain.
 
Hit
It's partly due to the Dutch squad that the Power Balance has become a hit in the Netherlands. The importer told reporters that sales have exploded, from 10,000 in the first six months of the year up to "10,000 a day, if only I could supply as many." The players are wearing a custom version of the band which is not available to the public.
 
Quacks
A Dutch organisation of sceptics, the Anti-Quackery Association, is critical about the wristband, saying its alleged powers are imaginary. "It is a ridiculous theory that a wristband with holograms can equalise energy flows in the human body. There is no such balance," according to the group's spokesman Ronald Heeck.
 
Nonsense
 Mr Heeck says it's a clever marketing ploy based on nonsense. "You connect a number of prominents' names to your product, athletes in this case, you add a handful of non-existent scientific-sounding terms and bingo, there's your success. People are susceptible to that sort of thing. If a cyclist wins a race after last night's dinner of ground chicken shit on biological toast, then next thing you know, every cyclist wants to have that," Mr Heeck said.
 
Down to earth
 Dutch national coach Bert van Marwijk is not concerned about the wristband hype, leaving it up to the players themselves whether they want to wear one. But he keeps his options open. "One is prepared to go a long way in order to grab the World Championship title. You don't want to reproach yourself later for not having tried everything," Mr Van Marwijk said.
 
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