In this incident I believe it was a factor:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=Munich .
I can't find a link to an official report but as I understand here were 3 parties involved: KLM, Air Dolomiti and a third.
Dolomiti was waiting for line-up at an intersection, KLM was on final but first there was a departure from the full length. As I understand it happened the Dolomiti was cleared to lineup behind (the landing KLM), but what it saw passing first was the departure from the beginning so it lined up behind that one, resulting in a near miss on the runway.
Again I haven't found any official publication about it, this is what I heard, thus not neccesarily true; however an interesting example of what can go wrong.
BTW: isn't it mandatory for controllers (and pilots to read back) to include some sort of identification in the clearance: f.i. "ABC behind DEF B737 on final line up and wait behind" i.s.o. "ABC behind landing aircraft line up and ..."?