Could this be a breakthrough year for the Dutch?
From Total Football to tiki-taka, from van Basten to van Dijk, the history of soccer in the Netherlands is interwoven with the global game. But despite reaching three World Cup finals, most recently in 2010, the Dutch men’s national team, known locally as the Oranje, has yet to win international soccer’s largest prize.
Disaster struck in 2016 and 2018, when the team failed to qualify for both the European Championship and the World Cup. It’s been a steady climb from the all-time low FIFA ranking of 36 that was reached in 2017 during the World Cup qualifying debacle. Two national team legends, Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer, have come and gone as manager since 2018. Now, after disappointment during the knockout stage during Euro 2020, Louis van Gaal is at the helm for his third stint in charge. His squad stumbled a couple times in qualifying (draws to Montenegro and Norway), but ultimately finished first in its group. It also topped its Nations League group, besting Belgium, Poland and Wales to secure a semifinal berth.
It’s been eight years since the Dutch won a knockout stage match at a major international competition, though. A favorable group and more experienced squad may just spell success in Qatar.
Group A Schedule (All times Eastern)
- Senegal, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.
- Ecuador, Nov. 25, 11 a.m.
- Qatar, Nov. 29, 10 a.m.
Coach
Louis van Gaal, hired in August 2021
ANP/Imago Images
Players to Watch
Virgil van Dijk, center back
The anchor of the Dutch defense for the last half-decade, the Liverpool star possesses every quality necessary of a modern center back. At 6’4”, his strength, speed and calm demeanor make him a force on the back line. Alongside Juventus’s Matthijs de Ligt and Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij, the frightening center back trio is one of the best in world football.
Frenkie de Jong, midfielder
Even after a bizarre transfer saga, de Jong should be one of the Oranje’s most important pieces. The silky Barcelona midfielder was central to van Gaal’s qualification squad. His pinpoint passing and ability on the ball in tight spaces will be crucial, as he’ll typically slot into the middle of a three-man midfield.
Memphis Depay, forward
He lit up qualifying under van Gaal, scoring 12 goals and recording six assists in 10 matches, but he’s largely an afterthought at Barcelona, which prompts questions about his readiness for this competition. He’s one of the Netherlands’ most seasoned goalscorers in international play, though, and will be one of just a handful of players with prior World Cup experience. If things click, Depay could be somewhat of a dark horse for the tournament’s golden boot.
Richard Wareham/Imago Images
Breakout Candidate
Cody Gakpo, winger
The 23-year-old PSV star has been linked heavily to Manchester United and other big-spending clubs around Europe, and for good reason. His goal contributions (15 goals, 14 assists) so far this season rival any of the world’s best, helping PSV to the top of the table, and if he’s able to translate that form to the World Cup stage, the bidding war for his services will only get more intense.
World Cup History
- 11th appearance
- Last appearance: 2014
- Best finish: Runner-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010
Outlook and Expectations
It’s all about the knockout rounds for the Oranje, who have never been eliminated in the group stage in 10 previous World Cup appearances.
Most recently in last year’s European Championship, the Dutch cruised through their group with three wins on an 8–2 goal differential. They were arguably the better side for the first half against the Czech Republic in the round of 16 before a de Ligt red card spurred a second-half collapse.
The group is there for van Gaal’s side to run the table. Senegal and Ecuador are no pushovers, but this is easily the most favorable group for a team coming out of Pot 2 of April’s draw. Their three Group A compatriots have won a total of seven World Cup matches in their combined history, compared to the Netherlands’ 27.
If the Dutch do the expected and win the group, they’d meet the second-place squad from a Group B that features England, the U.S, Wales and Iran in the round of 16. But perhaps the largest question mark will remain: Is the side’s attacking threat viable against some of the world’s top teams?
In 2010, midfielder Wesley Sneijder led the way with five goals. In 2014, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie led a star-studded attack. Depay put up big numbers in this year’s qualifying run, but four of his goals were from the penalty spot and no other forward finished with more than three goals in the 10 matches. It has yet to be seen whether a Netherlands attack centered around Depay has enough firepower to contend in the knockout stage of a major international tournament.
The Dutch are far from the favorites in Qatar, but anything less than a run deep into the knockout stage would spell the all-too-familiar feeling of disappointment once again.
World Cup Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)
DEFENDERS: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurriën Timber (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Daley Blind (Ajax)
MIDFIELDERS: Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)
