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.
