Earlier World Cup appearances: 10
Titles: 0
Greatest end: Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
World Cup report: W27 D12 L11
Objectives: 86
Greatest win: 5-0 vs South Korea (1988)
Participant to look at: Virgil van Dijk
Rating: 8
Fixtures: Senegal (November 21), Ecuador (November 25), Qatar (November 29)
Because the Netherlands head to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, expectations amongst followers are extra restrained than in earlier tournaments.
The present Oranje squad shouldn’t be as star-studded as earlier generations and exited the European Championships final 12 months with a 2-0 loss to the Czech Republic within the spherical of 16.
Since then, the Netherlands have notched up a string of spectacular outcomes towards formidable opposition, together with two wins over neighbours Belgium within the Nations League to prime their group.
A beneficial draw with Qatar, Senegal and Ecuador within the World Cup group phases has additional buoyed spirits.
The nation additionally seems behind supervisor Louis Van Gaal who led them to the World Cup 2014 remaining after it was revealed he was receiving therapy for prostate most cancers.
Shut however no cigar
The Netherlands has produced many nice groups in its historical past however in the end underachieved on the worldwide stage, failing to win the World Cup regardless of reaching three finals.
It was in 1974 that the Netherlands, captained by Johan Cruyff, reached their first remaining utilising their model of “Whole Soccer” – the place outfield gamers can change place whereas retaining organisational construction. The group stormed the knockout phases, swatting apart Argentina, East Germany and Brazil, however ultimately misplaced the ultimate to West Germany.
4 years later, they might fall brief within the remaining as soon as once more as Argentina scored two targets in further time to win.
The Eighties would see a decline in Dutch soccer at each membership and worldwide ranges, with the nationwide aspect failing to qualify for a World Cup. Nevertheless, the group, impressed by Marco Van Basten, would win the 1988 European Championships.
Within the Nineteen Nineties, a brand new era of Dutch stars that included Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf and Dennis Bergkamp jettisoned the Netherlands to a collection of spectacular however in the end disappointing World Cup campaigns.
In 2010, the Netherlands would take Spain to further time in a feisty remaining however an extra-time winner from Andres Iniesta sealed the win for the Spaniards.
4 years later, a tactically astute Dutch group oscillated between free-scoring attacking techniques that resulted in Robin Van Persie’s well-known lobbed header in a 5-1 rout of Spain and cautious defensive shows that noticed them eke out two goalless attracts resulted in a third-place end.
The Netherlands would fail to qualify in 2018 after ending third of their qualifying group to France and Sweden.
Van Gaal’s goalkeeping headache
Probably the most heated discussions round group choice have targeted on who ought to begin in aim.
Supervisor Van Gaal dropped common keeper Jasper Cillessen who moved to Dutch membership NEC from Valencia, for 2 Nations League fixtures.
Cillessen’s angle has additionally been referred to as into query by former teammate Rafael van der Vaart who described him as a “nasty man”.
In a shock transfer, van Gaal handed veteran keeper Remko Pasveer his first senior cap on the age of 38 in September. Nevertheless, the Ajax shot-stopper has seen a drop in type on the membership stage in current weeks.
Feyenoord’s goalkeeper, Justin Bijlow, can also be in competition, however the 24-year-old has additionally suffered a drop in type.
The Oranje boast a strong, star-studded line of defense with the likes of Liverpool FC’s Virgil van Dijk and Manchester Metropolis’s Nathan Aké. Van Gaal has dropped Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt in favour of the extra agile Jurriën Timber.
Van Gaal has experimented together with his midfield in current matches, however a number of gamers are assured to begin, together with the versatile Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and former Manchester United defensive midfielder Daley Blind.
Up entrance, Ajax’s Steven Bergjwin and FC Barcelona’s Memphis Depay will seemingly begin if match.
