World Cup Team Checks: The Netherlands
March 18, 2006
World Cup Qualifiers
The Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cup 2002 in South Korea and Japan. So the team was all the more motivated to make it to the tournament in Germany four years later. And it dazzled its way through the qualifiers with not one defeat. Instead, 10 wins and two draws speak a clear language. The "Oranje" team could also win the top spot in Group 1, putting its strongest group rival, the Czech Republic, in its place. In the end, it beat the Czechs at home in Prague outright with 2:0.
Stars
Beginning from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar up to the strikers, the positions in the Dutch team are roughly equally strong. In attack, Arjen Robben and goalscorer Ruud van Nistelrooy, who both play in the English league, certainly stick out. The fact that even a top striker like Bayern Munich's Roy Makaay doesn't have a regular spot on this international team speaks volumes.
Trainer
With Marco van Basten, a former striker superstar is coaching the Dutch team. Van Basten enjoys the respect of his charges already through his successful time as a player. He was European champion with the Dutch team in 1988 and one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe. He succeeded Dick Advocaat as trainer, who stepped down following sharp criticism of his work after the European Cup in 2004. Van Basten can send a homogenous team onto the field. Alongside old hands, he has carefully integrated several young players like Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, or Rafael van der Vaart into the team.
World Cup History
The Netherlands is participating in the World Cup for the eighth time.
1934: Round of 16, 1938: Round of 16, 1974: Runner-up, 1978: Runner-up, 1990: Round of 16, 1994: Quarter-finals, 1998: Fourth place
Match Schedule: Preliminary Round
June 11, 2006: Serbia and Montenegro -- Netherlands in Leipzig
June 16, 2006: Netherlands -- Côte d'Ivoire in Stuttgart
June 21, 2006: Netherlands -- Argentina in Frankfurt
World Cup Base
The Dutch have been drawn to Baden-Württemberg for the World Cup. The team will be residing in the Parkhotel Adler in Hinterzarten.
Outlook
The "Oranje" team has to date always reached the round of 16 at least. This is certainly not too much to expect at the World Cup in Germany, too. But the Dutch want more, namely the World Cup title. Trainer Marco van Basten has at any rate expressed this goal. Is it possible? The last time a Dutch team played in a World Cup final was in 1978. It lost against Argentina 1:3. At the World Cup in Germany four years earlier, it also reached the final. The opponent was Germany and the results are known. The Germans became World Champions thanks to a 2:1 against Cruyff & Co.