Netherlands: Van Basten nourishes hopes for first World Cup title

Four years ago, the fans of the Dutch national team were not in a joyful mood. The stars of the “Oranje Team” that had taken fourth place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup had failed miserably and lost out to Portugal and Ireland in the qualification for the following World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea. It was a major setback for this football nation that has maintained strong results for the last three decades. But the qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, almost on home soil, proved to be no obstacle for the Dutch. In the autumn of 2005, the 1988 European champions and two-time World Cup runners-up (1974 and 1978) find themselves quoted as one of the favourites to take the title next summer. Second place behind Brazil in the FIFA World rankings is further proof of the real power of the Orange stars, who are once again displaying their full potential under the direction of new national coach, Marco van Basten.

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The demands of Dutch fans and media alike are high. At the 2004 European Championship the “Elftal” made the semi-finals before losing 2-1 to hosts Portugal. But after that there was talk of crisis. Coach Dick Advocaat, who was criticised for his allegedly too defensive style, resigned in frustration from his post, making way for the former attacking star von Basten. This change proved a turning point. The Dutch enjoyed an excellent qualification run in European Group 1, without a defeat (10 wins, two draws, 27-3 goal tally) and with the satisfaction of twice notching 2-0 wins against the highly rated Czech Republic, in Amsterdam and Prague. This consistency – not a steady feature in the past – was complimented by a change of mood among their fans, who are now once again facing the future with optimism.

International experts are hailing the current Dutch squad to be as strong as that which won the 1988 European title in Munich, with such players as Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkkaard and van Basten. No other European national team can boast such a good basis as the Dutch. Most of their players are regulars with Europe’s top clubs. In addition, young contenders are constantly coming through the ranks. Stars such as Edgar Davids (Tottenham Hotspurs) and striker Roy Makaay (Bayern Munich) find themselves on the bench. But that’s not unusual for the Oranje fans. Only world stars such as Ruud van Nistelrooij and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar (both of Manchester United) achieved regular places on the national team. In addition, van Basten has been pushing a change of generation. Captain Phillip Coco (Eindhoven) and van der Sar are the two to have remained from the last set of regulars, while Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburger SV), a playmaker with goalscoring qualities, and striker Arjen Robben (Chelsea) have made the team.

Under van Basten, the Dutch internationals impress with a team unity that leaves ample space for both individuality and creativity. High targets have been set for the 2006 World Cup: Van Basten said that he finally wants to get his country’s first World Cup title in Germany. His squad take guidance from the Dutch performance in 1974 which saw them defeated by the hosts in the final in Munich, at the first ever World Cup on German soil. The captain then, Johan Cruyff, has expressed his belief that the FIFA World Cup trophy may indeed be heading for the trophy cupboard of the Dutch Football Association after July 9, 2006. In the 1974 and 1978 World Cup final matches the Dutch had to bow to the hosts, Germany and Argentina respectively. Since then, they have not reached a World Cup final.

Most Dutch consider a semi-final a failure, as at EURO 2004, especially if achieved with an unattractive style. Advocaat was accused of a too defensive attitude, because Orange Football must be played offensively. That’s what most of the fans believe in, despite the fact that this, together with an unexplainable weakness in matches ending with penalty shoot-outs, has often brought meagre tournament results. Prior to the elimination in the 2002 World Cup qualification, the nation still had to come to terms with the semi-final elimination in EURO 2000 at home.

After victories over the Czechs (1-0), Denmark (3-0), France (3-2) and Yugoslavia (6-1) the Dutch team was considered the hot favourite, but then lost to Italy in the semi-finals, 3-1 in the penalty shoot-out after 0-0. A further setback followed in 2001 when regular internationals Edgar Davids, Jaap Stam and Frank de Boer received long suspensions for positive nandrolon doping. The Dutch fans are now reconciled after the sacking of national coaches Frank Rijkaard, Louis van Gaal and Advocaat. With Marco van Basten, the 2006 World Cup could turn out a real success – which means no less than the World Cup title for the Orange Team that revelled under the nickname of the “European Brazilians” in the past because of their high playing standards.