With
Euro 2012 kicking-off - it's time to profile the countries taking part, from
their footballing beginnings to the present day.
Coach: Bert van Marwijk
Qualifying
Group Winners
One to Watch: Gregory van der Wiel
As
we approach the summer of 2012 all of our minds, well most of them at least,
will turn away from the domestic football competitions within our own
countries, towards the International arena for the eagerly awaited European
Championship Finals, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine. At It's All In The
Game, we shall be profiling each of the 16 finalists that will bid to become
the champions of Europe until 2016.
We
go Dutch for our next Euro 2012 team profile and take a look at the
Netherlands, also known as Holland. The Dutch played their first game as a
national team in 1905 against, neighbours, Belgium. Nicknamed the Oranje
because of their bright orange strip, a tribute to the Royal House of Holland,
the Netherlands' first tastes of international tournaments were at the 1934 and
1938 World Cups.
It
would be forty years, however, until the Dutch re-emerged at a major
tournament, World Cup 74 in West Germany, and when they did, it would be to
establish themselves as one of the great footballing nations. Holland would go
on to qualify for the World Cup Finals on a further seven occasions to date,
and arrive at their ninth European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
The
Dutch team of the 1974 and 1978 World Cups are regarded, like the Brazil team
of 1982, as two of the greatest teams to have never won the World Cup. Under
coach Rinus Michels, and led by the majestic playmaker Johan Cruyff, Holland
brought the Total Football philosophy, pioneered by cub sides Ajax and
Feyenord, to the World stage.
This
philosophy, at a basic level, allowed for complete fluidity as each player
could play in every position with almost an equal level of skill, it relied on
the brilliance of the players, but it worked so well that the Dutch team of
that era was dubbed “A Clockwork Orange”.
Unfortunately
for the Oranje, their Total Football could not deliver the ultimate prize as
they lost in both the final of the 1974 World Cup, 2-1 to hosts West Germany,
and, the final of the 1978 World Cup 3-1 (aet) to hosts Argentina. Holland
would go on to reach the World Cup Final again in South Africa in 2010, only to
be defeated 1-0 by Spain, making them the only team to have reached the final on
three occasions, and never won.
Sandwiched
in between these two World Cup disappointments was a run to the semi-finals of
the 1976 European Championships, the Dutch campaign, however, was characterised
by in fighting between the players and coaching staff and they were eventually
beaten by, tournament winners, Czechoslovakia.
Tournament
success was proving illusive, however that would change as Holland’s finest
footballing hour lay ahead. and the Netherlands failed to qualify for the three
of the next four tournaments, that would change however, as Holland's finest
footballing hour lay ahead of them.
Rinus
Michels turned as coach for Euro 88. West Germany, was the stage; the Dutch
team, which included such greats as Marco van Basten, Ruud Hullit, Frank
Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman, began the tournament inauspiciously, losing 1-0 to
the Soviet Union. A van Basten hat-trick in the next game saw Holland defeat
England by three goals to one, setting up a group decider, against the Republic
of Ireland.
A
draw would have sent Ireland through and Holland home, but in the 82nd minute
Kieft popped up with the only goal of the game for the Dutch, to set up a
mouth-watering semi-final against arch rivals West Germany. With the scoreline
locked at 1-1, the match seemed to be heading for extra time, an 89th minute
winner from, hero, Marco van Basten broke German hearts, and secured sweet
revenge for Holland’s 1974 World Cup defeat.
The
U.S.S.R., in what would be their final tournament as a single entity, would be
Holland’s opponents in the final. Having already beaten the Dutch in the
opening game, many thought that the Soviets would secure the trophy. It wasn’t
to be however, as an iconic Ruud Gullit bullet-header put Holland 1-0 up before
van Basten sealed victory, with what is widely regarded as the best goal that
the tournament has ever seen, a rasping volley at a nigh on impossible angle
from a high, cross-field pass.
Since
those halcyon days, the Dutch have struggled to re-claim former glory, they
came close, reaching the semis at Euro 92, World Cup 98- where Dennis Bergkamp
starred, and Euro 2000, they also made the final at World Cup 2010, however the
big prize has remained tantalisingly beyond their grasp.
Current
coach Bert van Marwijk has done a good job since taking over after Euro 2008,
securing qualification for the last World Cup with a 100% record and, leading
Holland to the final. Building upon that run, the Netherlands have been
impressive in qualification this time round, winning nine out of ten games,
losing only one, to Sweden, when qualification had already been secured. Van
Marwijk also seems to have created relative harmony with in the Dutch squad,
which is very important as splits within
the camp have put paid to many a Dutch team in the past.
Looking
at the current squad, Holland have a number of very experienced players. The
likes of van Bommel, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt and Johnny Heitinga have over
300 caps between them. These old pros are complimented by a couple of younger
players such as Afellay and Strootman. With strikers such as Huntelaar, Robben
and van Persie, goals shouldn’t be hard to come by, van Persie’s club form this
year makes him one of the favourites to win the Golden Boot.
A
player to look out for next summer is Gregory van der Wiel, the 23 year old is
a right-sided attacking full back, known for his pace and crossing ability, the
youngster has become a firm part of van Marwijk’s first team,racki ng up 29
caps. Holland are right up there with the best in the World at the moment,
defeat to Spain in the 2010 World Cup will have hurt, and the Dutch will be
keen for revenge. Along with Germany, Holland pose the greatest threat to
Spain’s domination of Europe, I’d expect them to make the semi-finals at least.
By Neil Patterson
Email: neil.b.patterson@gmail.com
Facebook: http://goo.gl/MJce0
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Neil1980
Blog: http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com
