
<p>Having missed out in Russia four years back, the Netherlands travel to the <a href="https:\/\/www.worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022">Qatar World Cup </a>with lofty expectations from their ardent fans. </p>



<p>The Dutch finished runners-up in 2010 and third place in 2014. They are back at the world’s biggest stage to make another deep run this time out. </p>



<p>Louis Van Gaal is back at the helm again, <a href="https:\/\/www.eurosport.com/football/euro-2020/2021/football-news-euro-2020-dutch-fa-part-ways-with-frank-de-boer-after-exit-at-hands-of-czech-republic_sto8395961/story.shtml">taking over</a> from Frank De Boer after the Oranje crashed out for Euro 2020 in the round of 16 to the Czech Republic.</p>



<p>Van Gaal who also coached the national team in 2014 World Cup, <a href="https:\/\/www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/04/louis-van-gaal-named-as-netherlands-manager-for-third-time" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">returned to the post for the</a> third time last year in August.</p>



<p>Since then, the 71-year-old has employed a 5-3-2 formation that has worked wonders for the 1988 European Championship winners. </p>



<p>He had earlier started off with his preferred 4-3-3 system which provoked criticism from captain and Liverpool star Virgil Van Dijk. </p>



<p>However, the former Manchester United manager now feels that his team has more balance in the 4-3-3 setup, the same system which helped the Dutch to a third-place finish in Brazil eight years back. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Properly epic WC squad announcement from the Netherlands 🇳🇱<br><br>Not every manager could do this but Van Gaal just has that gravitas <a href="https:\/\/t.co/QWBOPS08Rw">pic.twitter.com/QWBOPS08Rw</a></p>— FPL Banger Podcast 🎙️ (@FPL_Banger) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/FPL_Banger/status/1591032026534412290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h5><strong>Qualification Review</strong></h5>



<p>Netherlands finished top of Group G in their qualification round, 2 points ahead of Turkey, winning 7 out of 10 games, drawing twice and losing once. </p>



<p>Memphis Depay has been the focal point of attack for the Dutch, but the striker has hardly featured for Barcelona this season. Van Dijk and Stefan De Vrij form a solid back line while Denzel Dumfries and Nathan Ake should complement the towering center-backs in the back line. </p>



<p>Frenkie De Jong once would certainly play the pivotal role in the middle of the park while the one to look out for would certainly be Cody Gakpo. </p>



<p>The 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven forward has <a href="https:\/\/www.football.london/arsenal-fc/transfer-news/arsenal-cody-gakpo-manchester-united-25350862" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">attracted interest</a> from a host of Premier League clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal. </p>



<p>Gakpo already has 12 goals and nine assists this season and all eyes would be on him in Qatar whether he can shine in the biggest of stages. &nbsp;</p>



<h5><strong>Memorable Moments</strong></h5>



<p>Johan Cruyff remains a cult status back home capturing the imagination of the world in the 1974 World Cup where the Dutch finished second. Their style of play later came to be known as ‘total football’ created a fluid system where the outfield players were devoid of any fixed role on the pitch.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Johann <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/hashtag/Cruyff?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cruyff</a>. What an impact he had. Total Football? Tiki-taka? World Class academies? We all owe them to him. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/uo74pEyi0H">pic.twitter.com/uo74pEyi0H</a></p>— American Fútbol (@futbolmovie) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/futbolmovie/status/713019289465266177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2016</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>While Rinus Michels was the brain behind the system, it was Cruyff who mastered the art on the pitch. Netherlands also finished runners up in 1978 to Mario Kempes’ Argentina, with Cruyff ironically missing out in the tournament.</p>



<h5><strong>What to expect</strong></h5>



<p>A fluid attacking team wearing the Orange jersey that will catch the eye and make heads roll. Having been placed with Ecuador, Senegal and hosts Qatar in Group A, the Oranje should top their group with eye catching football. </p>



<p>Defensively expect them to dominate the opposition playing out from the back with the wing backs joining the attack every time they have the ball. </p>



<p>Up front, Gakpo, Bergwijn and Depay will rotate their positions to drag out oppositions defenders out of their positions to make space for overlapping runners on either wings.</p>



<p><strong>Hipster Predictions:</strong> Louis Van Gaal’s side should finish top of their group and will face the runners up from Group B that comprise of England, Wales, USA and Iran for a place in quarter finals. </p>



<p>The Dutch would back themselves to beat either of the teams and should they do, they would meet Argentina in what would be a repeat of the blockbuster semifinal from 2014.</p>



<p><em>Photo credit: IMAGO / ANP</em></p>



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<h3>Guide to World Cup 2022</h3>
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Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in soccer!
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>TV Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/"><strong>The Groups:</strong></a> We <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/04/analysis-of-world-cup-groups/">breakdown each group</a> and all the teams
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/"><strong>The Kits:</strong></a> Check out <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-jerseys-for-qatar-2022/">what every team will be wearing</a> on the field this fall
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/"><strong>Predictor:</strong></a> Play out every scenario with our <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/predictor/">World Cup Predictor</a>
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/04/05/world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/"><strong>World Cup Hub:</strong></a> Your one stop for <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2022/">everything Qatar 2022</a>
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Netherlands are back in the World Cup having missed out in Russia in 2018 but can the Oranje upset the odds in the world's biggest stage in Qatar.

Netherlands aim to upset the odds in the World Cup - World Soccer Talk

Netherlands aim to upset the odds in the World Cup

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/netherlands-away-shirt-2015-crest.jpg" alt="netherlands-away-shirt-2015-crest" width="600" height="396" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-134931" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/03/netherlands-away-shirt-2015-crest.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/03/netherlands-away-shirt-2015-crest-150x99.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/03/netherlands-away-shirt-2015-crest-300x198.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure>
<p>If you’ve been listening to the daily <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/world-cup-buzz/id372947323" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Cup Buzz Podcast</a> since it debuted in mid May, you’ll know how frustrated Richard, Laurence and Kartik have been with the performance by the Netherlands team. And I echo the same concerns. The team has achieved so much to get to the final and has shown flashes of brilliance along the way, but it’s not the type of Dutch team that is going to win games in a beautiful manner.</p>
<p>So, I thought it’d be a good idea to delve into the archives and to find some examples of how the Dutch teams of the past tantalized us with their incredible skill and attacking prowess. I’ve compiled a collection of videos from the 1974 and 1978 World Cup tournaments as well as one from the 1988 European Championship.</p>
<p>Here they are:</p>
<p><strong>1974 World Cup tournament</strong></p>
<p>This was the one where the Netherlands should have won the World Cup. With a team featuring stars such as Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol, Johnny Rep, Wim Suurbier, Rene van der Kerkhof and many others. They played a brand of soccer called Total Football, which was built on the premise that a player who moves out of position is replaced by another member of the team, thus retaining the team’s intended organizational structure.</p>
<p>Netherlands made it through to the final of the 1974 World Cup where they played host country West Germany. Within the first few minutes of the game, the English referee Jack Taylor awarded a penalty to Netherlands – the first penalty ever awarded in a World Cup Final. However, Taylor was criticized for failing to hand out yellow cards to German players who committed several serious fouls on Dutch players. The only German that day to be yellow carded was Berti Vogts in relation to the first penalty called in the game.</p>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qj9kpoD0Wnk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p><strong>1978 World Cup tournament</strong></p>
<p>Agonizing for the Dutch, they made it through to the 1978 World Cup Final and almost won the game when in the final minute of regulation time, Rob Rensenbrink hit the post. If the ball had gone in, the Netherlands would have won the 1978 World Cup. Instead, the game went into extra time and Argentina grabbed two late goals to win it 3-1.</p>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8AFRkQbXedo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p><strong>1988 European Championship</strong></p>
<p>Holland’s Total Football was long gone, but the 1988 Dutch team featured a stellar side of players including Ruud Gullit (with long hair), Marco van Basten and Ronald Koeman. This was a side that was not at the level of 1974 or 1978, but the Netherlands still went on to win the 1988 European Championship with one of the goals of the century courtesy of van Basten.</p>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0ufZKwBG-ZI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

Netherlands National Football Team: Best Of from ’74, ’78 and ’88: Video

Netherlands National Football Team: Best Of from '74, '78 and '88: Video - World Soccer Talk

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Netherlands aim to upset the odds in the World Cup

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Netherlands National Football Team: Best Of from ’74, ’78 and ’88: Video