It was hardly plain sailing for the Dutch. A 4-0 defeat against France left the Netherlands chasing qualification for the rest of the campaign and in a two-horse race with Greece, they claimed a pivotal 1-0 victory in Athens to secure a ticket in the next game against the Republic of Ireland.
Their struggles were a fair reflection of the Dutch’s poor performance levels.
Tournament Record
They might be arch-rivals, but Germany brings back pleasant memories for the Dutch. In 1988, in Munich, the Netherlands claimed their sole major championship when Marco Van Basten’s fabulous volley proved to be the difference in the final against the USSR.
Of great cinematic quality, the goal became one of the most iconic in the tournament’s history. This will be the Netherlands’ tenth participation. On debut in 1976, they claimed the third place.
The Manager
Ronald Koeman is in his second spell with the Netherlands after Louis Van Gaal left following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where the Dutch did catch the imagination in a dramatic quarter-final against Argentina.
Koeman however is pragmatic and prioritizes results over style despite his promise of a new wind when he took over in 2023.
It’s the first time Koeman will coach the Dutch at a major finals. He enjoys a long track record at club level, including reigns at Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona. As a player, he won Euro 1988 with the Netherlands.
The Star Player
It’s almost blasphemy in a country once renowned for its liberal, attacking philosophy, but today Virgil Van Dijk is the star of the team. A captain both for club and country, he brings real experience and personality on and off the pitch.
It was Koeman who brought Van Dijk to English shores, where after a spell with Southampton, the Dutchman established himself at Liverpool as one of the best central defenders in the world. At 32, he is aging, but his formidable presence and skills remain intact.
What to Expect
On the eve of the finals, the Netherlands were confronted with the reality that their talisman would not make it to Germany – an injury sidelining FC Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
It was a major blow to the team’s aspirations and Koeman’s fitness concerns don’t end there: Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow in goal and Atlético Madrid’s Memphis Depay up front remain a question mark.
In a way, it’s a reflection of all the problems Koeman faces – can opponents bypass his midfield all too easily? Is there too much reliance on the danger and goals of Depay up front?
After an underwhelming qualification campaign, the manager acknowledged that his team can and need to improve. In a rematch of the qualifiers, the Dutch meet France again in Group D. Austria and Poland can’t be underestimated either. With so many questions to answer and limited depth in the squad, it’s hard however to see the Dutch challenge for the main prize.
Calendar
Sunday, June 16 Poland – Netherlands – Volksparkstadion Stadium, Hamburg, 3 pm
Friday, June 21 France – Netherlands – Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig, 9 pm
Tuesday, June 25 Netherlands – Austria – Olympiastadion, Berlin, 6 pm