Netherlands aims to turn around World Cup failure in Qatar 2022
The Netherlands are the team that most deserves retribution at the World Cup. Three times, the Dutch eleven made it to the World Cup final. Each time, it finished heartbreakingly as a runner-up.
In two of those, West Germany in 1974 and Argentina in 1978, the Dutch were defeated by the hosts. They enjoyed a dominant run as contenders during a time when the Dutch played soccer with a free and fluid style known as "total football."
The Netherlands developed a team during the 1970s that always entered tournaments as a contender. The game was transformed by Johan Cruyff, who is arguably the most significant player in the history of the game. In 1974, he displayed his "Cruyff Turn" in full against Sweden. With one manoeuvre that combined a fake and a reverse, Cruyff duped the defence.
The second half of the Munich final match in 1974 was dominating. The Dutch made a determined push into their attacking third in search of the equaliser. Nevertheless, despite having twelve chances to score, the Dutch fell short, losing 2-1. Despite the outcome, there was general agreement among spectators that the Netherlands was the superior team and they were just unlucky.
However, that was not the case in Buenos Aires against Oswaldo Ardiles and Mario Kempes in 1978. Argentina dominated the Dutch, 3-1, en route to the country’s first World Cup win.
That wasn't the situation in Buenos Aires in 1978 when Oswaldo Ardiles and Mario Kempes were the targets. Argentina won the World Cup for the first time after dominating the Netherlands 3-1.
In South Africa 2010, The Dutch made their third effort to win a championship. Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal and Spain's short, rapid passing play were crucial in Spain's first World Cup victory. This match was actually unbreakable. Arjen Robben missed a crucial opportunity to give the Netherlands the lead during a breakaway.
A bitter rival
For those matches, the Netherlands undoubtedly feels resentment towards Germany, Argentina, and Spain. The Dutch's most famous conflicts have been centred on yet another South American side.
The Netherlands and Brazil have a history of disagreement. Romário, Bebeto, and Dunga scored goals in the quarterfinals of USA 1994 to defeat the Dutch, 3-2. Four years later, Brazil won their semifinal match despite Philip Cocu and Ronald de Boer's failed penalties.
But in South Africa in 2010, the tale of disagreement turned into a conflict. With a 2-1 victory in the quarterfinals, the Flying Dutchmen were able to reclaim their reputation. The team advanced to the semifinals thanks to two goals from Wesley Sneijder. The Netherlands then defeated Brazil once again, four years later. This time, it occurred in the third-place playoff with a commanding 3-0 victory in Brazil's capital.
Golden Boot
The Netherlands has produced some of the most well-known soccer players in history, despite their highs and lows.
Legends like Johan Cruyff, Edgar Davids, Wesley Sneijder, and Ruud Gullit, for instance, represented Holland at World Cups. The Netherlands' first and only major championship was won by the latter of those, a forward and captain. With players like Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, and Marco van Basten, that squad won Euro 1998.
For Dutch players, Russia 2018 was a turning point for a new generation. The Netherlands were not able to compete in that World Cup. Now, a historical microscope is focused on many side players as they come with a chip on their shoulder.
The Netherlands is the only "powerhouse" nation to have failed to capture a World Cup championship.
Netherlands aims to avoid being a World Cup failure
The Netherlands came in first place overall in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification. But the Dutch actually entered as a "group 2" squad because of how the World Cup draw was structured. It was therefore in the same scenario as countries like the USA, Switzerland, and Germany, among others.
Group A was drawn for the Netherlands. Senegal, Ecuador, and the hosts, Qatar, are the other participants in that group. Qatar was automatically given slot A1 as the host country, despite the fact that the Netherlands is the group's major standout.
The Flying Dutchmen aim to win Holland's first World Cup and end their losing streak. Virgil van Dijk, the team captain and central defender for Liverpool, and Barcelona's hybrid player Memphis Depay are in charge.
Stars lead the way
Depay is the go-to goal scorer for both his club and nation as the No. 9 for Barcelona. He does, however, wear the No. 10 for his national team, which is a symbol for a distributor of ideas. Memphis Depay took advantage of this combination of positions by scoring 12 goals in 10 games for the Netherlands during qualifying.
Memphis Depay, who plays with the iconic No. 10, follows in the footsteps of predecessors such as retired elite midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who in 2010 helped the Netherlands reach the final, and former forward Dennis Bergkamp, who was frequently criticised for acting aggressively on the field despite having an excellent style of play.
Memphis Depay of Barcelona has scored 11 goals in 24 games for La Liga in the 2021–2022 season, and the goal-scoring pendulum seems to be swinging in his direction.
Depay needs eight more goals to break Robin van Persie's 50-goal Dutch record, which now stands. The Netherlands have reasonable expectations for World Cup success in Qatar thanks to a self-assured goal scorer. The Dutch team of Louis van Gaal is the overwhelming favourite to win Group A at -160 odds and the entire tournament at +1600 odds.
Opening fixtures
After losing on matchday one of the World Cup, less than 10% of teams progress from their Group. It is so crucial for the Dutch to defeat Senegal, who is considered to be Group A's "dark horse." The Lions of Teranga, who will face the Dutch XI when the 2022 FIFA World Cup begins on November 21 in Doha, have a squad full of quality players from the Premier League and will be a force to be reckoned with.
After winning the African Cup of Nations earlier this year, Senegal is sure to be a dangerous opponent. Qatar is also the current champion of their respective federations after winning the AFC Cup back in 2019, so that won't be an easy task for Netherlands.
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