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If there’s one team that deserves redemption at the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">World Cup</a>, it is the Netherlands. The Dutch eleven reached the World Cup final three times. Each time, it fell tragically as runners-up.
In two of those, the Dutch lost to the host nations, West Germany in 1974 and Argentina in 1978, respectively. Their dominant run as contenders came in an era where the Dutch displayed ‘<a href="https:\/\/www.goal.com/en/news/what-is-total-football-famous-tactics-explained-the-clubs/w5yd5dzofn4p17ewmav4atk2b">total football</a>‘ – a free-flowing and fluid soccer style.
That era of the 1970s prompted a Netherlands side that always entered tournaments as a contender. Johan Cruyff, perhaps the most influential player in the history of the sport, revolutionized the game. His ‘Cruyff Turn’ came out on full display against Sweden in 1974. Cruyff bamboozled the defender with a fake and reverse in a single move.
The 1974 final played in Munich was a one-sided second half. The Dutch pressed into their attacking third with a relentless pursuit for the equalizer. Yet, the Dutch lost, 2-1, failing to capitalize on a dozen shot opportunities. Despite the result, the consensus among fans was that the Netherlands was the better team, but they were simply 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.
The Oranje’s third attempt at glory came during South Africa 2010. Spain’s short and quick passing style, and Andres Iniesta’s extra time goal, proved key for La Furia Roja’s first World Cup trophy. In reality, this match was inseparable. Arjen Robben missed a major chance on a breakaway that may have been the difference in favor of the Netherlands.
<h5>A bitter rival</h5>
The Netherlands certainly holds something of a grudge with Germany, Argentina and Spain for those games. Yet, another South American side is at the center of the Dutch’s most notable battles.
The Netherlands has a tale of bitter dissension with Brazil. In the quarterfinals of USA 1994, goals from Romário, Bebeto and Dunga eliminated the Dutch, 3-2. Just four years later, Philip Cocu and Ronald de Boer missed their penalties as Brazil advanced in their semifinal tie.
However, the tale of dissension became a rivalry in South Africa 2010. The Flying Dutchmen regained honor with a 2-1 win in the quarterfinals. Two Wesley Sneijder goals sent the side to the semis. Then, four years later, the Netherlands bested Brazil again. This time, it came in the third-place playoff with a dominant 3-0 win in Brazil’s capital.
<h5>Golden Boot</h5>
Throughout the highs and lows, the Netherlands is responsible for some of the most famous soccer players in history.
For example, legends like Johan Cruyff, Edgar Davids, Wesley Sneijder and Ruud Gullit played in World Cups for Holland. The latter of those was the forward and captain who led the Oranje to their first and only major championship. That team won Euro 1998 with players like Marco van Basten, Ronald Koeman and Frank Rijkaard.
Russia 2018 served as a turning point for a new generation for Dutch players. The Netherlands failed to qualify for that World Cup. Now, many players on the side enter with a chip on their shoulder with a historical microscope on them.
The Netherlands is the last ‘powerhouse’ country yet to win a World Cup.
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<h3>The Netherlands looks to break World Cup dud</h3>
Throughout the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification, the Netherlands finished atop its standings. However, due to the format of the World Cup draw, the Dutch actually entered as a ‘group 2’ team. Therefore, it was in the same boat as the USA, Switzerland and Germany, among others.
The Netherlands drew into Group A. The other members of that group are Senegal, Ecuador and the hosts, Qatar. Though the Netherlands is the true headliner of this Group, Qatar was automatically assigned to position A1 as the host nation.
The Flying Dutchmen look to break their dry spell and win Holland’s first World Cup. Led by Liverpool center-back and team captain Virgil van Dijk and the hybrid player Memphis Depay from Barcelona.
<h5>Stars lead the way</h5>
As a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2021/09/11/memphis-depay-already-under-microscope-at-barcelona/">No. 9 for Barcelona</a>, Depay is the go-to goal scorer for both club and country. However, he wears the No. 10 for his national team – a number assigned to a creative distributor. Using this amalgamation of roles, Memphis Depay capitalized by scoring 12 goals in 10 games for the Oranje during qualifications.
Wearing the famed No. 10, Memphis Depay walks in the shoes of predecessors like retired elite midfielder Wesley Sneijder – who led the Dutch to the final in 2010, and former forward Dennis Bergkamp, who was constantly criticized for aggressive behavior on the field, despite his brilliant style of play.
The goal-scoring momentum seems to be swinging in Memphis Depay’s favor as the Barça man put the ball in the back of the net 11 times in 24 matches in La Liga’s 2021/22 season. Depay is eight goals shy of breaking the Dutch national record, with Robin van Persie sitting atop the ranks with 50 goals. With a confident goal scorer, the Netherlands have realistic expectations for World Cup glory in Qatar. Louis van Gaal’s Dutchmen are overwhelming favorites to win Group A at -160 odds and +1600 to win the tournament.
<h5>Opening fixtures</h5>
Historically, less than 10% of teams advance from their Group after losing matchday one at the World Cup. Therefore, it becomes imperative for the Dutch to beat Senegal – ‘the dark horse’ of Group A. The Lions of Teranga have a roster filled with elite players from the Premier League and will be a force to be reckoned with as they compete against the Dutch XI when the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Nov. 21 in Doha.
PHOTO: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images – PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images

The Netherlands is perhaps the unluckiest team when it comes to the FIFA World Cup. Three trips to the Final, but no wins to show for it.

Netherlands looks to snap World Cup dud at Qatar 2022 - World Soccer Talk

Netherlands looks to snap World Cup dud at Qatar 2022

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It has been an interesting week in rumors. 
First the managers!
Hoffenheim will say goodbye to Ralf Rangnick because he wants to spend money this summer. They will then say hello to Jurgen Klinsmann, who is the epitome of frugality. After all, he only forced Bayern to rebuild it’s training facility.
Meanwhile the possessors of Klinsmann’s Buddha statues look certain to fill his vacancy with AZ’s Louis Van Gaal who must be dreaming of the Europa league. 
And as the man Bayern fired for being too successful looks certain to join Schalke after working wonders at Wolfsburg, the Wolves are sniffing around Frank Rijkaard. It is a testament to how good Magath is that we can hear a rumor like than and not laugh.
As for the players.
Bayern Munich. 
So in the same week we heard that Bayern couldn’t afford to meet the €10 million evaluation by Fiorentina for Sebastian Frey, we heard that they are going to spend €26 million on Werder’s Diego to replace Frey’s buddy Franck Ribery. But not to worry for the cash-strapped Bavarians. Manchester United want to spend €62.5 million on their French wizard, which should allow them to buy a replacement and hopefully stay solvent.
It will even allow them to spend €5 million on Tom Huddlestone of Tottenham Hotspur. However, that ridiculous rumor is predicated on Martin Jol being the next manager. What nobody has asked, is why hasn’t Jol made a play for his former starlet at Hamburg yet. 
Borussia Monchengladbach 
Marko Marin, who should be higher on most radars than Edin Dzeko, as he will leave if Gladbach are relegated, has only been linked with Hamburg so far. And that’s under the assumption that they are going to lose Piotr Trochowski to Everton or Arsenal. At €9 million, I can’t believe this kid hasn’t been linked with just about every club in Europe. I would love to see him at Spurs. 
Werder Bremen 
Diego! Please pick a team already. You and Ribery are boring me to tears.
Wolfsburg 
Edin Dzeko has fooled everyone in England into thinking he’s the next big thing. While he has a lot of potential, he has Misomivic and Grafite to make him look good presently. So someone in England is going to overspend on him, only to find that he’s actually still a work-in-progress. Don’t get me wrong, he has the potential to be a great player, but he’s not there yet and English teams aren’t patient enough typically to see him through to his full development. 
Bayer Leverkusen 
The Werkself picked up Sami Hyypia on a free. Fantastic signing, but does that mean the end of Henrique?
Hertha Berlin 
Auxerre forward Benoit Pedretti is being heavily linked with the capital club, who will be desperate for a forward if Pantelic leaves and Voronin returns to Liverpool.
Stuttgart 
The return of the prodigal son seems imminent as Alexandre Hleb looks set to leave Barcelona’s bench. I’m not sure he’ll be much more than a sub at Stuttgart though.
Hannover 96 
Wolfsburg Alexander Madlung, who is available on a free, is close to joining the reds, if HSV doesn’t make a last minute offer.

Bundesliga Rumor Mill: May 5, 2009 - World Soccer Talk

Bundesliga Rumor Mill: May 5, 2009

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So, the FA have finally come out and asked Arsenal to respond within 7 days to Hull City and their Assistant Manger, Brian Horton’s, accusations that Cesc Fabregas spat at him in the tunnel. I’m amazed on several fronts, firstly the FA have managed to start an enquiry in the same month an actual incident happened, the fact that a little club ( as viewed by Soho Square) are actually going to get a chance to state their case to the FA and that we already have a lawyer already involved on Hull City’s side. Advice has been sought so now it’s in the FA’s hands.
What intrigues me and always has done, is the way that spitting in football is so frowned upon. Now, don’t get me wrong here, I’m no fan of spitting, but the ire that incidents like this create for such a minuscule display of immaturity and petulance still surprises me. Spitting just seems to fire so many people up, I could understand it 20-30 years ago, but still it probably attracts such anger from fans, pundits and the people on the receiving end of the projectiles.
Of course, the first real spitting incident I remember was <a href="http:\/\/www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfpaPIVO69Y" target="_blank">this little gem</a>, Rudi Voller still remains the only player I know to get sent off for being spat on and it was one of the major talking points of Italia 90.&nbsp; Yet, this new little tete a tete between Horton and Fabregas is unusual, now anyone who saw the pictures of Fabregas on the pitch that night can’t deny that he was certainly pumped up at the end of the game, but did he really have the audacity to then try and spit on Horton? Fabregas has denied it and claimed he’s never spat at anyone on a pitch, but something certainly happened between him and Michael Ballack once before. (Check it on Youtube, I’d include a link but the video has a soundtrack with some choice words, so just be careful where you watch it.)
Yet, just because he was pumped up after the match doesn’t make him guilty through pulling strange faces. I’ll be very disappointed either way when the story comes to it’s conclusion, but if he is guilty, what punishment will be given. It would surely be classed as ungentlemanly conduct, which I believe carries a 3 game ban, something Arsenal do not need right now. With a possibility of Arsenal playing in potentially 15 games, including Champions League and FA Cup matches and with him almost back to full fitness, Wenger will be counting on Fabregas to come into the team to give them a boost in the final two months of the season, he does not need him banning at this point of the season. If he did spit at Horton, then Wenger should throw the book at him, I hope he does.
Yet, I can’t see why Horton and Brown would lie about something like this, it’s a pretty concrete accusation to make about someone and the dossier that was sent to the FA is fairly substantial. Something definitely happened in the tunnel, so let’s hope the FA can work through the accusations and allegations and draw a line under the debacle and we can get back to football.

Fabregas and Horton Prepare For Round Two - World Soccer Talk

Fabregas and Horton Prepare For Round Two

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Where were you when the news of Scolari’s sacking broke this afternoon? I saw it on facebook, followed by a text message from a friend who works at ESPN. I can honestly say that the decision by Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board has stunned me, after only 7 months in charge at Stamford Bridge. Did I see it coming? Not all, I commented last month that Chelsea weren’t playing well in my opinion and had little chance of catching Manchester United and Liverpool in the race for the Premiership but to remove Scolari so soon caught most people I know by surprise, even the Chelsea fans I know were shocked over the events. I don’t think anyone expected Aston Villa to be surging past them as we entered February but thats the state of the top 4 in the Premeriship come Sunday evening. I know the fans were booing the Chelsea team, for about the third home game in row but lets be fair, Chelsea should be destroying teams like Hull City and Stoke City, no offensive Tigers and Potters fans, but for you both to have almost stolen wins at Stamford Bridge is unthinkable in modern Premiership history.

Only gaining 3 wins in the last nine Premiership matches is surprising, but to only score 9 goals in that period too tells you a lot about what Chelsea’s problem is. This is an old team, with very little quality in depth if any of the first 11 get injured. Of course the first team is, on paper, one to rival most sides in Europe but I shudder to think what the current Barcelona side would do to them on present form.&nbsp; A team with no real wingers, only two top quality strikers one of whom clearly doesn’t want to be there, 8 central midfielders and no young players banging on the door of the first team squad. Scolari seems to have to have had his hands tied with no new players coming into the side since Deco’s arrival in the summer until Ricardo Queresma joined on transfer deadline day. Quite what he makes of things right now, heaven only knows.
The loss of Michael Essien became a major burden, his effervescent performances have been the driving force for Chelsea over the last 3 seasons and the midfield failed to sizzle without his power and strength to take games by the scruff of the neck. To chase games, Scolari consistently turned to Belletti, a wing back who occasionally filled in at Defensive Midfield. Chelsea have the most expensive youth and scouting network in the world but it hasn’t delivered any players of any note coming in, unlike Manchester United and Liverpool. John Obi Mikel has shown he is no Essien, or even a half fit Claude Makelele. Teams had worked out how to stop Chelsea by pushing on to Bosingwa and Ashley Cole and packing the midfield, narrowing the playing field even more than normal. Once Manchester United had gone to Stamford Bridge and stopped Bosingwa and Cole pushing forward, the rest of the Premiership realised that if you could do that, Chelsea had no Plan B under Scolari.
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20090209_WST_4341_Steve_Clarke_413821a.webp&amp;width=239&amp;height=315" alt="" width="239" height="315"></figure></div>Chelsea, lacking players comfortable on the wings, were suffocating themselves with an overloaded midfield and running consistently in to dead ends. Steve Clarke has never looked more important to Chelsea’s recent history as he does today, if anything the reason Chelsea did so well last season after Mourinho left was Clarke’s presence on the training ground in the majority of Avram Grants time as manager. Clarke’s hunger to move onward saw Chelsea lose a major asset that they probably didn’t appreciate in the boardroom as much as the players did on the training ground and in the dug out.Over recent weeks, his importance to the Chelsea cause shouldn’t underestimated.
So where now for Chelsea, who can come in a give this team a lift. The team needs a major overhaul, this is an aging side that needs extensive surgery in most areas of the team if they want to compete at the top end of the European football table. I would rule out Guus Hiddink immediately as I can not see Abramovic testing his popularity in Russia by stealing the national team manager, He may be joint favourite with the bookmakers but the Russian connection would rule him out for me. Sven Goran Eriksson is another one I can’t see coming back to England from Mexico, though he would have the experience to deal with the ego’s of the dressing room after his time at Lazio when they were throwing money around like confetti at the turn of the century.
The two big contenders for me are Frank Rijkaard and Roberto Mancini, both recently employed at two of the biggest clubs in Europe at Barcelona and Internazionale respectively. Neither has a contract to break, can start immediately and can cope with the massive burden of expectations from thousands of fans. Mancini took over at Europe’s most consistently underachieving side with Inter and Rijkaard took over the worst Barcelona side in living memory in the Summer of 2003. Both are used to big players and their ego’s and entourages, big demands from fans and chairmen and consistently challenging the biggest sides in Euope for the top prizes. Both delivered in the following seasons but both saw their reigns snatched away from them, Mancini was cruelly treated for Inters failure in Champions League whilst Rijkaard lost the dressing room war between the Ronaldinho and Eto’o camps. That shouldn’t detract from either mans suitability with the job but I’d wager a couple of pounds on a cheeky flirt with Jose Mourinho in this season of comebacks and returns!! Ultimately though, the key to Chelsea’s problems lie with the Chairmans willingness to sanction a wholesale clear out in the Summer. They need hungry young players to add to the likes of Ashley and Joe Cole, Bosingwa, Lampard and Anelka, get some width to the side and get them playing football with a bit more canniness to it, to have more than a plan A. For Chelsea to succeed again, Roman Abramovic has to fall back in love with the Chelsea blue.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Frank Rijkaard"

Netherlands

Netherlands looks to snap World Cup dud at Qatar 2022

Leagues: Bundesliga

Bundesliga Rumor Mill: May 5, 2009

General

Fabregas and Horton Prepare For Round Two

Chelsea

Where Now For Chelsea?