Twice sank on major football events, namely the 2016 European Cup and the 2018 World Cup, the Netherland national team has been considered a weak team. It’s no longer the team that its opponents fear. Even though the team’s ammunition was inhabited by many fancy names. Call it one of them is Van Versie. Now the shameful notion slowly began to shift. The team with its distinctive orange uniform began to show its fangs. As proof, the last match was able to crush the Germany with a fairly landslide score, 2-4, in the 2020 European Cup qualifiers.
The German national team, the four-time world cup champion (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014) is like a team that has just played soccer. In the midst of the turmoil, Ronald Koeman, one of the heroes of the Netherland national team won the 1988 European Cup, with Marco Van Basten, Rud Gullit, Frank Rijkard and several other names. Not only that, before this team was also able to penetrate the final round of the UEFA Nations League, although eventually they had to surrender from Portugal with a score, 1-0.
The small success of the Netherland national team cannot be separated from the courage of Meneer Koeman to get rid of famous names that have always graced the orange team in the past decade, such as Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder replaced by talented young players, call it Frenkie de Jong, Marteen de Roon, Wijnaldum and Virgil Van Dijk. In fact, the last name successfully won the best European players in 2018/2019 after defeating two of the world’s top players in the last ten years, Christian Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
With the return of the Netherland national team on the path it should be, it could make competition in the European and world cup performances fierce again. Unlike in the 2016 European Cup and 2018 World Cup, it seems there is no thrill without the presence of this team in the competition for the title race. Like a word, the two grand championships are like vegetables without salt.
King without a crown
The NetherlandNational Team had the shock of the world soccer world with a style of total football created by Rinus Michel. Soccer style that requires all players to attack and defend equally well is able to be applied by Johan Cruijf and his teammates. The result, they were able to penetrate the World Cup finals in two consecutive editions. Namely in 1974 and 1978. Unfortunately in the two final matches, the Netherlands must be satisfied to be Runner Up. After surrendering from West Germany in 1974 with his Frans Beckeunbauer, and Argentina in 1978, with Mario Kempes incarnated as a field star. Despite failing to be top, the game at that time was able to anesthetize connoisseurs of soccer balls all over the world. His aggressive and attractive game was really terrible for the opposing teams under the sky. Naturally, in the end the team was nicknamed ‘the king without a crown’.
Since the defeat at the 1978 World Cup final, the Netherland national team continued to show a beautiful and pleasant game to watch until finally in 1988, they managed to become European champions after defeating the favorite favorite team, Uni Soviet. The names that successfully delivered the Netherland team to the top of the championship at that time, until now continues to be legendary. Call it, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkard, Koeman brothers.
In fact, in the 1992 European Cup edition, the Netherland national team, which still had players, was not much different when it won the previous edition, again favored. Unfortunately their steps stopped in the semi-finals by Denmark. This team that was not taken into account was successful in defeating the Netherlands through a drama shootout. In fact, at that time Denmark was just a replacement team for Yugoslavia due to a civil war conflict. In the final they destroyed another favorite championship team, West Germany. Since then the nickname “The Dynamite” is attached to this team.
After winning the European Cup, the Netherland national team has not been able to gain success anymore. Both the World Cup and European championships. But it cannot be denied, the presence of this team is always placed as a favorite team. This is certainly not separated, always the birth of world-class soccer star players. When the golden era of Ruud Gullit et al, other well-known names emerged, such as Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids, Mark Ovemars, De Boer brothers and Dennis Bergkamp.
In the finals they must recognize the superiority of Spain with his tiki-taka football. AndresInesta became a nightmare by scoring his only goal in the final. After failing at the 2010 World Cup, in fact the 2014 edition was held in Brazil, this team showed promising games. The team that was led by Robin Van Versie was far away until the semi-finals. Unfortunately in this phase they have to surrender back to Argentina led by Lionel Messi and finally only able to become champion III, after defeating host Brazil 3-0. That’s the last time an achievement that can be carved by the Dutch. Afterwards this team seemed lost in the earth. European Cup 2016 and 2018 World Cup they must be satisfied to be spectators and watch the teams while playing in it. Now under Ronald Koeman’s team, this team is said to be back to being one of the teams to be feared.
ASL
