Netherlands History

Page's History | Back to Team Page

Description

Netherlands National Football Team

Nickname(s): Oranje, Clockwork Orange, Orange Crush, The Orangemen
Association: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (Royal Netherlands Football Association)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Marco van Basten, (2004-)
Captain: Edwin van der Sar
Most caps: Edwin van der Sar (121)
Top scorer: Patrick Kluivert (40)
Home stadium: Amsterdam ArenA, De Kuip, Philips Stadion
FIFA code: NED
FIFA ranking: 9


 

History

It was 1934 when the Netherlands made their first appearance at a World Cup tournament. Then, after 1938, the Holland team entered world football sharply. It was during the 1950s that the team was more professionally managed and had great chances to climb up the championships ladder and improve further at international level. In the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, they finished 2 points behind Austria, having lost 3-2 in Vienna after leading 2-0.

The Netherlands national football team is controlled by Royal Netherlands Football Association. They were able to reach the World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978 but lost them to respective host nations West Germany and Argentina, but in 1988 the team was able to get a victory in the UEFA European Football Championship. In the ‘70s, the team was famous for its skills in Total Football and was nicknamed "Clockwork Orange" for its accurate passing. In 1974, the Netherlands beat both Brazil and Argentina in the second group stage, reaching the final for the first time in their history.

The 1976 UEFA European Football Championship was a disappointment as they lost in the semi-finals to Czechoslovakia, because of internal fights and Coach Goerge Knobel. The Dutch finished as runners up for the second World Cup in a row as they ultimately lost 3-1 after two extra-time goals from Argentina. The last tournament that the Total Football generation qualified for was the 1980 UEFA European Football Championship, but they weren’t successful enough to advance beyond the group stage.

In 1990, The Dutch were beaten by Germany. It iwas an amazing game and unforgotten is Rejkard spitting at German player Voller.

 
 
Spitting
 
Created on: 5/13/2008
 
By: ob1
 
Tags:
 
 


 

European Titel in 1988

The greatest moment for the team came in 1988 when they finally won an international titel. The Dutch team beat host Germany in the semi finals and then Russia in the final. The final took place in Munich and remains unforgotten because of its incredibel goals. Especially the one scored by Marco van Basten. The Dutch team was clearly the best team of the tournament. 

 
 
1988 Final
 
Created on: 5/13/2008
 
By: ob1
 
Tags:
 
 


 

1998 - 2004

The 1998 FIFA World Cup team from Netherlands included Marc Overmars, Phillip Cocu, Edgar Davids, Frank de Boer, Ronald de Boer and Patrick Kluivert, who met Argentina in quarterfinal. The Holland team wasn’t able to make their mark until the end of regular time and was also not able to cash in on the penalty opportunities. At the same time, Argentinean Ariel Ortega head-butted Edwin van der Sar, the result of which Ortega was sent off and the Netherlands won 2-1 after a Bergkamp goal in the 89th minute. Bergkamp's goal was very renowned because he controlled a 60-yard pass from Frank de Boer then reverse-flicked it inside Roberto Ayala and finally volleyed it past the Argentine goalkeeper.

In the semi-final, the Netherlands took Brazil to a penalty shootout after a late Kluivert goal tied the match 1-1, but Brazil won the shootout 4-2 and advanced to the final.

Netherlands co-hosted Euro 2000 with Belgium and managed to get three wins in the group stage, including a win over World Cup champions France. They then crushed Yugoslavia 6-1 in the quarter-finals. In the semi-final, their opposition Italy went down to ten men in the first half and the Netherlands were awarded two Penalty kicks but failed to convert either chance. Coach Frank Rijkaard was criticized by the press as the Dutch had wasted several chances to win and result of which was his resignation as the national coach, and Louis van Gaal replaced him. Dennis Bergkamp retired from the national team after Euro 2000, having failed to score during the tournament.

Netherlands didn’t qualify for 2002 FIFA World Cup, due to major losses to Portugal and the Republic of Ireland, while the latter eliminated them from Finals. Van Gaal resigned at the conclusion of the Netherlands' unsuccessful campaign, and soon after coach Dick Advocaat took over. In Euro 2004, Netherlands were able to reach the semifinal stage but lost against Portugal. Coach Dick Advocaat was adversely criticized for his strategies and player modifications, and soon after he stepped down as a coach. New coach Marco van Basten came on board, when most of the players had either retired or were not selected for the next World Cup which included veterans like Frank de Boer, Ronald de Boer, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Marc Overmars, Jaap Stam, and Patrick Kluivert.


 

Regular Players 07/08

Goalkeepers                             Club

Edwin van der Sar                     Manchester United
Maarten Stekelenburg                Ajax
Henk Timmer                          Feyenoord

Defenders                                -

Khalid Boulahrouz                     Sevilla FC
Wilfred Bouma                          Aston Villa FC
Tim de Cler                              Feyenoord
Urby Emanuelson                      Ajax
John Heitinga                           Ajax
Kew Jaliens                              AZ Alkmaar
Joris Mathijsen                          Hamburger SV
Mario Melchiot                          Wigan Athletic
André Ooijer                            Blackburn Rovers

Midfielders                               -

Giovanni van Bronckhorst           Feyenoord
Nigel de Jong                           HSV
Clarence Seedorf                      AC Milan
Wesley Sneijder                        Real Madrid
Rafael van der Vaart                 HSV
Demy de Zeeuw                        AZ Alkmaar

Attackers                                  -

Ryan Babel                               Liverpool FC
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar                  Ajax
Dirk Kuyt                                  Liverpool FC
Ruud van Nistelrooy                   Real Madrid
Robin van Persie                       Arsenal FC
Arjen Robben                           Real Madrid
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink       Celtic FC


 

2004 - Present

Netherlands qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and finished second in Group C after beating Serbia & Montenegro (1-0) and the Ivory Coast (2-1) and drawing against Argentina (0-0). The Holland team was eliminated in the second round after losing 1-0 to Portugal, in a match that produced a World Cup record of four red cards (two for either side) and was nicknamed "the Battle of Nuremberg" by the press. Marco van Basten was offered a two-year extension to his contract by the Dutch FA, despite criticism surrounding his selection policy.

The Netherlands began their Euro 2008 campaign with a win in Luxembourg on 2 September 2006. On September 8, 2007 the Oranje beat Bulgaria at the Amsterdam Arena following goals by Wesley Sneijder and Ruud van Nistelrooy. On September 12, 2007, the Netherlands won a hard fought victory against Albania, with Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring the winning goal in extra-time. Then the Oranje were beaten 1-0 in Romania on October 13, 2007, but four days later the Netherlands' 2-0 recorded a victory over Slovenia, while rivals Bulgaria could only draw in Albania. This left the Dutch needing only one win from their last two games, at home to Luxembourg and away to Belarus, to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008.


 

World Cup record

Netherlands National Football Team

Nickname(s): Oranje, Clockwork Orange, Orange Crush, The Orangemen
Association: Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (Royal Netherlands Football Association)
Confederation: UEFA (Europe)
Head coach: Marco van Basten, (2004-)
Captain: Edwin van der Sar
Most caps: Edwin van der Sar (121)
Top scorer: Patrick Kluivert (40)
Home stadium: Amsterdam ArenA, De Kuip, Philips Stadion
FIFA code: NED
FIFA ranking: 9


 

Regular Players 07/08


Goalkeepers    Club
Edwin van der Sar    Manchester United
Maarten Stekelenburg    Ajax
Henk Timmer    Feyenoord
Defenders    -
Khalid Boulahrouz    Sevilla FC
Wilfred Bouma    Aston Villa FC
Tim de Cler    Feyenoord
Urby Emanuelson    Ajax
John Heitinga    Ajax
Kew Jaliens    AZ Alkmaar
Joris Mathijsen    Hamburger SV
Mario Melchiot    Wigan Athletic
André Ooijer    Blackburn Rovers
Midfielders    -
Giovanni van Bronckhorst    Feyenoord
Nigel de Jong    HSV
Clarence Seedorf    AC Milan
Wesley Sneijder    Real Madrid
Rafael van der Vaart    HSV
Demy de Zeeuw    AZ Alkmaar
Attackers    -
Ryan Babel    Liverpool FC
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar    Ajax
Dirk Kuyt    Liverpool FC
Ruud van Nistelrooy    Real Madrid
Robin van Persie    Arsenal FC
Arjen Robben    Real Madrid
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink    Celtic FC


Squad
NamePositionGrade FansGroups
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Offense
309
 0
Nigel de Jong
Midfield
42
0
Gregory van der Wiel
Defense
20
 0
Robin van Persie
Offense
1088
 0
Joris Mathijsen
Defense
6
 0
Khalid Boulahrouz
Defense
30
 0
Eljero Elia
Midfield
28
 0
Dirk Kuyt
Offense
440
 0
Edson Braafheid
Defense
5
 0
John Heitinga
Defense
33
 0
Last edited by:
On: August 29, 2009
Version: 33