An XI of the greatest Netherlands World Cup players

If any team could be considered the eternal bridesmaids of the World Cup, it would be The Netherlands. No other side has come closer to winning the World Cup and failing than the Dutch who have reached and lost 3 World Cup finals. Having finished runners up in 1974,1978 and 2010, the Oranje have always been in the hunt for the grand prize in each of the 10 tournaments they have featured in. Their “total football” approach in the 1970s revolutionized the modern game whilst their squads in the past few decades have featured some of the top technical talents of the game today. Considering these squads have bene packed full of talent, just who would make The Netherlands’ greatest World Cup XI?

 

GK: Edwin Van Der Sar

Cutting an imposing figure in goal, Edwin Van Der Sar was a player who surprised many with some of his skills. Despite being 6ft 6in, Van Der Sar moved with surprising speed showcasing amazing reflexes and reactions to pull off spectacular saves. It’s why he always caught the eye on the biggest stages of all. Although he didn’t feature in the 1994 World Cup, he was in the squad but in 1998, he stole the show for his side. Making some crucial saves in matches against Argentina and Yugoslavia, Van Der Sar played every minute as the Dutch finished fourth overall. It was this form that earned him the 1998 Dutch Golden Shoe award for his performances. After Holland’s shock failure to qualify in 2002, Van Der Sar was back in goal in 2006 playing in all four games before losing to Portugal in the second round. It would be his final appearance in the World Cup – although he would grab the all-time caps record for his country in their group stage match against the Ivory Coast.

 

RB: Wim Jansen

Capable of playing in both defence and midfield, Wim Jansen was one of the key cogs of the famous Netherland’s lineup of the 1970s. Jansen’s never-ending stamina and excellent passing skills made him a must-have in the defensive unit. It was why he was just one of a few players who featured in every match of the teams that reached the final of both the 1974 and 1978 World Cup tournaments. Jansen would also be fateful of committing the foul that allowed West Germany to equalize in the 1974 final but his presence remained important for the Dutch as they repeated their run just four years later in Argentina.

 

LB: Ruud Krol

There are very few players who have been as technically adaptable as Ruud Krol. Although Krol was primarily a left-back, he was someone who could be deployed anywhere on the pitch and have an impact. With excellent passing adding to a phenomenal defensive skillset, Krol was one of the leading figures in the 1970s squad that reached back-to-back finals. He would notch one of the World Cup’s memorable strikes in the 1974 tournament when he scored the second goal in their 4-0 win over Argentina underlining his impressive all-round game. In Argentina 4 years later, Krol was captain and successfully guided his country to the finals before losing to the hosts in the final. An impressive feat for an impressive defender.

 

CB: Frank De Boer

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, very few defenders had the attacking capabilities that Frank De Boer possessed. Despite being an excellent tackler, De Boer was also excellent at striking the ball making him an asset at set-pieces. It was why De Boer would be up for taking penalties in shoot-outs just as much as some of the strikers. These abilities were clear in 1998 when De Boer produced a huge pass to set-up Dennis Bergkamp to score in the quarter finals against Argentina. It was this form that led De Boer to be nominated as part of the 1998 All-Star World Cup Squad as the Dutch finished fourth in France.  It would be a classy ending for a classy player who never played in the World Cup again after that tournament.

 

CB: Arie Haan

Although Arie Haan didn’t have the longest of international careers, he played a huge role for his country when he did appear. Haan’s physical style and excellent understanding of the game made him an important part of the Dutch backline throughout much of the 1970s. Despite much changes in how players lined up alongside him, Haan always featured as the main central defender in each match including the World Cup finals. The fact that 1/3 of Haan’s international career was played in the World Cup proves that it is the quality and not quantity of games that matters when representing your nation.

 

CM: Johan Cruyff

Just the mere mention of Johan Cruyff automatically brings up images of silky skills that revolutionized the game. His impressive tricks, including the famous Cruyff turn, shocked the world and unlocked defences almost effortlessly. It would be 1974 where the Dutch phenom would showcase his best work. He led his country to the World Cup final in 1974 scoring three goals along the way in Germany – the first time that the Dutch had featured in the tournament for over three decades. His impact and legacy still remains today with the main stadium in Amsterdam bearing his name recognizing his impact shortly after he passed away from cancer in 2016.

 

CM: Wesley Sneijder

One of the most complete midfielders of the modern era, Wesley Sneijder was someone who never stopped running from the first to last whistle. Sneijder was deadly on the ball and could hit powerful shots and score from 30 yds without any difficulty. This, mixed with his outstanding passing ability, meant he was one of the focal points of the Dutch team. It was a big reason for Sneijder featuring in three World Cup tournaments. His biggest impact came in the 2010 World Cup where he scored five goals as the Dutch reached the World Cup final. It was where he not only won the Silver Ball for the tournament but also earned a spot in the 2010 World Cup Dream Team. Having also played prominent roles in the 2006 and 2014 teams too, Sneijder holds the record for most games played by a Dutchman at the World Cup with 17 – a tally that also adds to him being the current all-time caps record holder for his country too.

 

CM: Johan Neeskens

The Dutch squad in the 1970s had talent in almost every part of the pitch and Johan Neeskens was just another prime example of this. The attacking midfielder was a big influence on the team playing menacing through-balls as well as pushing forward to help support attacking moves. It was this talent that made him a big reason for The Netherlands reaching the 1974 World Cup final where he scored five goals in the tournament. It would be enough to earn him a spot in the 1974 All-Star Squad as well as the Silver Ball award that year. He was also a part of the squad that reached the 1978 final although he failed to score a single goal in Argentina. Nevertheless, Neeskens was named as part of the all-time Ballon D’Or Dream Team in 2020.

 

FW: Johnny Rep

Some people may not be familiar with Johnny Rep but the winger was one of the prime finishers of the 1970s. His ability to handle pressure and find the net in big games played big roles in both tournaments where the Dutch reached the World Cup final in 1974 and 1978. He notched four goals in the 1974 tournament in Germany including a brace against Uruguay in their opening match. He would also score three more times in  the 1978 edition in Argentina including a brace against Austria in their second round match. With 7 goals in all World Cup games, Rep remains the all-tiime top scorer for The Netherlands in a career where over 60% of his international goals came in the world’s biggest tournament.

 

FW: Dennis Bergkamp

Despite not having a love for flying, Dennis Bergkamp was still a player who could deliver for the Netherlands in the biggest tournaments. With mind-boggling ball control and deadly striking abilities, Bergkamp was at his best when wearing the orange and white journey. It was a big reason why The Netherlands reached the latter rounds of both the 1994 and 1998 tournaments with Bergkamp scoring three goals in both tournaments. This form in France earned Bergkamp a nomination in the 1998 FIFA All-Star World Cup Team particularly for his memorable strike that knocked Argentina out in the quarter-finals – scoring the only goal of the game. A player who could always make an impact wherever he was on the pitch.

 

FW: Robin Van Persie

For most of the 2000s and 2010s, the Dutch frontline was led by Robin Van Persie and he was never afraid to find the back of the net. With a venomous left-footed shot, Van Persie was deadly from almost any angle and caused headaches for the very best of the best. His best performances arguably came in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where the Dutch reached the last four. It was here where RVP scored four goals including a gravity-defying header in a group match 3-2 victory against Australia. He would also score a brace in the 5-1 thrashing over Spain underlining his quality against the very best opponents in the game. It’s this form that showcased why Van Persie is the all-time record goalscorer for The Netherlands and one of their greatest players of all time.

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