Netherlands team guide: A rock-solid defence, but uncertainty in goal (2024)

After a fallow period that included the failure to qualify for Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup, and a disappointingly early exit from Euro 2020, the Netherlands head to Qatar with a balanced team and an experienced manager — the straight-talking Louis van Gaal…

The manager

The legendaryLouis van Gaal is one of the most successful managers of the last three decades, winning a host of major honours with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United while playing an attacking brand of football that often made his teams universally respected.

However, in the second of his three spells in charge of the Dutch national team (the first saw his team fail to qualify for the 2002 tournament), he surprised fans and pundits by opting for a more conservative 5-3-2 formation at the 2014 World Cup, anticipating that it would give his team the best chance of success. And he was right: his team finished third in Brazil and conceded just four goals in seven matches. They lost on penalties to Argentina in the semi-finals.

Earlier this year Van Gaal cited Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea as an inspiration, explaining how a team set up in a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 system can be both defensively solid but also threaten overloads going forward, and he is likely to line up his team similarly in Qatar.

After failing to qualify in 2002 and falling at the penultimate hurdle in 2014, Van Gaal will do everything in his power to make it third time lucky in what will surely be his last coaching job.

The household name you haven’t heard of yet

Having made a name for himself in the Dutch Eredivisie, PSV’s Cody Gakpo was seemingly on the verge of a big transfer to the Premier League over the summer. Manchester United showed an early interest in the winger — with Gakpo later admitting that he was close to leaving — but in the end the deal fell through. Leeds and Southampton were heavily linked, too, but on the final day of the Dutch transfer window, Gakpo decided to stay put. That same day he was focused enough to score a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Volendam.

Playing wide on the left wing or in the No 10 role, Gakpo is quick and skilful, with long-distance shooting his trademark; his super-powerful ‘hip-shots’ are reminiscent of the Brazilian Adriano during his Inter heyday. Gakpo has spoken of how Ruud van Nistelrooy helped him perfect his finishing in the PSV academy.

This year they are re-united in the first team with the former Manchester United striker now head coach. Gakpo has continued to impress: 13 goals and 15 assists in 24 games so far this season are numbers that will only have more Premier League clubs knocking down PSV’s door. An impressive showing in Qatar will only heighten the clamour.

Strengths

The defensive options the Netherlands have at their disposal are truly remarkable. Virgil van Dijk has been one of world’s best defenders in recent years, even if his form this season hasn’t lived up to his own standards. Then there are Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, and Inter’s Stefan de Vrij. The performances of Nathan Ake (Manchester City) and Jurrien Timber (Ajax) have also been impressive over the last year.

And it’s not as if they’re understaffed at full-back. Daley Blind (Ajax), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United) and Denzel Dumfries (Inter) also all have experience at the highest level.

Read more: Gakpo scored again as Netherlands beat Qatar 2-0

Generally, the team has a very good mix of exciting young talent and big-match experience. Some of their top players, such as Van Dijk and Barcelona forward Memphis Depay are somewhere near the peak of their careers. Although not always sure of a starting spot at Camp Nou, Depay has really delivered for the Dutch team in recent years, and that form is reflected in his goals. He only needs nine more to break the country’s all-time goalscoring record, currently held by Robin van Persie (50).

Weaknesses

The team hasn’t had a settled first-choice goalkeeper since Euro 2020, and even as we approach the World Cup it is unclear who will be their starting keeper.

Justin Bijlow, Jasper Cillessen and Mark Flekken have all been given a chance in the last 18 months, but in the two most recent games 39-year old Remko Pasveer has earned his first two caps for the national team, and could be in line to start against Senegal in the Netherlands’ first group game.

His chances increased further when Cillessen and Flekken were axed from Van Gaal’s final squad, with uncapped Andries Noppert of Heerenveen selected ahead of them. That means the three goalkeepers travelling to Qatar will have a combined eight caps. Pasveer joined Ajax from Vitesse Arnhem last year, having previously spent three years as PSV’s back-up keeper.

Although he has played in the Champions League this season, he has no experience of international tournament football. Should he be selected, it could be a big psychological step up.

Local knowledge

Like many countries, the Dutch FA give their backing to an official anthem ahead of any major tournament the Netherlands participate in, with the song produced with the aim of increasing the atmosphere back home. Although this time Dutch public are a bit more reserved about the upcoming tournament in Qatar, this year is no different.

The 2022 song is called Mijn Oranje Hart (My Orange Heart), which was selected by singer Mart Hoogkamer on I Want Your Song, a Dutch TV show in which several songwriters pitch songs to well-known artists.

The track from duo Carlo Rijsdijk and Manfred Jongenelis won the contest. Hoogkamer will perform the song on matchdays of the Dutch team at the ‘Huis van Oranje’, an official fan event organised by the Dutch federation (KNVB) back in the Netherlands.

Expectations back home

Another run to the semi-finals would be seen as a good achievement, and it may not even be an unrealistic target. The Dutch team has been in impressive form leading up to the World Cup (they have won 11 and drawn four of their 15 matches since being knocked out of Euro 2020 by the Czech Republic) and if they finish top of their group and all others finish as expected, the only major obstacle between them and the last four would be Argentina.

The Dutch media have been pretty positive about this team, fuelled by topping their Nations League group which also contained Belgium, and there is unlikely to be a big mood swing if things don’t work out in Qatar.

There is an acceptance that the new year will bring the dawn of a new era, with Van Gaal having indicated from the start that he would only be coaching the team up until the end of the World Cup.

In January another familiar face will take over, with Ronald Koeman beginning his second stint as Dutch coach having been sacked by Barcelona last year.

Read more: See the rest of The Athletic’s World Cup 2022 squad guides

(Photos: Getty Images; design: Sam Richardson)