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FIFA World Cup 2022 Preview: Will van Gaal’s Netherlands return to form?

The FIFA soccer World Cup is always a memorable occasion. Every four years, billions of people from around the world watch the World Cup, and hosting the competition is seen as a great honor for a country. This year’s iteration is hosted by the Arab nation of Qatar, making this year the first time the World Cup makes its way to the Middle East. It is also the first World Cup ever to take place during winter months, and the tournament is only weeks away.

The Netherlands have had a rough time in international competition since the height of their appearance in the final of World Cup 2010 and their third-place finish in 2014. But in recent years, it looks like the Netherlands are starting to get back to their former strength, and the side are currently 8th in the FIFA world soccer rankings. But how will Louis van Gaal’s side fare in this upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar? Read on for a comprehensive review of the Netherlands’s chances of winning the World Cup and their history and current squad.

The Netherlands National Soccer Team

The Netherlands have been one of the cornerstones of global soccer since the legendary sides of the 1970s. Plenty of technically brilliant and notable players have come from the Netherlands over the years, and clubs like Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, and Feyenoord have been historic performers both domestically and in European competition.
History

The Netherlands’s national soccer team is respected all over the world for its introduction of the Johan Cruyff-inspired ‘Total Football’ style that originated in the 1970s and was then adopted by teams such as Barcelona and Manchester City. They have a rich history of both club and national success, although they have not won a FIFA World Cup yet in their history.

Greatest achievements

The greatest achievement of the Netherlands national soccer team has to be their European Championship win in 1988, winning the final 2-0 against a very strong Soviet Union side. Goals from Dutch legends Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit gave the Dutch their first and only major soccer trophy on the international stage.

They have also reached the FIFA World Cup final on three different occasions, in 1974, 1978, and 2010. Their squads in 1974 and 1978 were two of the finest teams never to win the World Cup, and their 2010 final appearance was lost 1-0 to Spain, with the winning goal scored by Andrés Iniesta after 116 minutes, heartbreak for the Netherlands, who had defended so resolutely up to that point.

Notable players

The list of legendary players from the Netherlands is never-ending. The most famous and significant player in the Netherlands soccer team’s history is Johan Cruyff, who famously led the Dutch side to consecutive World Cup finals in the 1970s. He was also one of the most exciting players of his generation, with a level of technical ability that far surpassed the level of most of his peers.

Apart from Cruyff, the most famous Dutch players are former Arsenal superstar Dennis Bergkamp, Inter Milan’s wizard Wesley Sneijder, and the steely Ronald Koeman. Koeman, in particular, has carried on his soccer relevancy by becoming a notable manager at clubs such as Barcelona, Everton, and at Dutch giants Ajax.

Jersey

The Netherlands soccer team jersey for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a mixture of their traditional orange with a modern-looking shine that adds a touch of class to the jersey. Jersey manufacturers Nike have also added tasteful black lining at the top, with the look very visually striking.

Trivia

Did you know that the Netherlands are the only team to reach three World Cup finals without ever winning the trophy? While there are other teams that have reached the final without winning, such as 2018-finalists Croatia, the Netherlands have come the closest of any nation that has not won the coveted prize.

Squad

The current squad for the Netherlands soccer team is an interesting one compared to previous World Cups, with a heavy reliance on the amount of talented youth coming through the Dutch ranks. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is one of the most talented players the Netherlands has produced in years, and PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo is one of the big hopes of the Dutch side for the next decade.

However, the key players that will decide how far the Netherlands will go this time around remain the two defensive stalwarts that have been the reason the Netherlands have risen up in the rankings in the past few years; Manchester City’s Nathan Aké and Liverpool’s towering Virgin van Dijk. van Dijk in particular has been probably the most dominant defender of this generation of soccer, and him being on top form is key if the Netherlands want to achieve their ambitions of a deep run in the tournament.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Preview

This year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar is shaping up to be one of the most hotly-contested World Cups in recent memory, with plenty of teams optimistic about winning the trophy. The new timing of the World Cup could be a factor in which players end up performing the best, with Europe-based players not tired after a long season, but rather mostly in peak physical fitness. The Netherlands could be one of the countries to benefit from such a change.

Qualifiers

The Netherlands qualified for the World Cup with a strong finish to their qualifying group, winning four out of the last five matches to pip Turkey to the top spot in their group by only two points. Norway were third in the group, three points behind Turkey, and the Netherlands could have been in real crisis if they didn’t finish the group so strongly.

Match 1: vs. Senegal

The Netherlands kick off their 2022 World Cup with a clash against African giants Senegal on the 21st of November in Group A. Senegal are ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings, and with one of the best players in the world in Bayern Munich star Sadio Mané, they pose a huge threat to the Netherlands in this match.

However, their defense is looking a little suspect in their previous few matches, and the likes of Barcelona striker Memphis Depay will severely test their organization defensively. The Netherlands should be favorites for this match, but overlook Senegal at your peril.

Match 2: vs. Ecuador

The Netherlands’s soccer team’s second match in Group A is a 25th of November matchup against a tricky Ecuador team ranked 44th in the world. Their relatively low ranking does not reflect the talent in their squad, with young talent Byron Castillo and Brighton’s Moisés Caicedo providing flair and creativity that van Dijk and the Dutch defense will have to deal with.

However, the Netherlands’s multi-faceted attack should prove too much for a limited Ecuador defense who are relatively inexperienced in big tournaments. Ecuador scraped through their qualifying group and will find facing this Netherlands side a difficult prospect.

Match 3: vs. Qatar

The final match in Group A for the Netherlands is a potentially fiery matchup against hosts Qatar on the 29th of November. Qatar are ranked 50th in the FIFA rankings and shouldn’t prove too difficult a match on paper, but host nations often outperform their ranking and squad talent, just look at Russia’s run to the quarter-finals in 2018. Qatar’s squad will be preparing for this match especially, with a chance to win over a historically great team in front of their home crowd all the motivation they need.

The lack of top talent in Qatar’s squad could prove to be the difference-maker here, though. Almost all of their players play in the Qatari league, which is still a couple of levels below the top European leagues, and the lack of competition against players of the Netherlands’s caliber make this a one-sided contest on paper. Soccer is rarely won on paper, though, and the Netherlands will have to be wary.

Possible knockout stage

If the Netherlands qualify from Group A as winners, they will probably come up against a Gareth Bale-led Wales side or a USA side filled with young talent in the round of 16. Either way, the Netherlands would be considered favorites for such a matchup, although the USA’s speed on the counter could be a real threat to the Dutch defense.

If the Netherlands make it past that, they would probably come up against a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina side who currently side at number three in the FIFA soccer rankings. This would be a stern test of the Netherlands’s credentials, and Argentina would rightly be considered favorites for such a matchup.

However, if the Dutch side manage to progress, they could come up against either top-ranked Brazil or a Spain side also making their way back to the top of the national game after some years in the soccer wilderness. Again, the Netherlands would be underdogs for these games, but they would feel they would have more chance against a talented but untested Spain side.

In the final, they would be matched up against any number of strong teams, and success for the Dutch in this World Cup would just be getting past the quarter-final stage. But who knows where van Gaal can lead them?