World Cup preview: Netherlands
The Road To The World Cup
The Netherlands faced little resistance in qualifying for their tenth World Cup, finishing with 28 points from ten games. No one did better in UEFA qualifying, and only Germany equaled their point total.
Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-06-13 | Spain vs. Netherlands | 3:00 PM ET |
| 2014-06-18 | Australia vs. Netherlands | 12:00 PM ET |
| 2014-06-23 | Netherlands vs. Chile | 12:00 PM ET |
Formation: 5-3-2
That's not a misprint. The Dutch will use five defenders at the back this summer in Brazil. Manager Louis van Gaal decided to employ the formation after losing box-to-box midfielder Kevin Strootman to a knee injury.
The new system will employ wing backs to link play between the defense and Wesley Sneijder, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben up front. It gives the gifted play makers and goals scorers lots of space to use their creativity with the ball.
Manager: Louis van Gaal
A former manager at Ajax, Barcelona, AZ Alkmaar and Bayern Munich, Louis van Gaal took the reins of the Dutch team for the second time on July 6th, 2012. His first tenure as manager was a disastrous one in which they failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
This time, the qualification process went about as smoothly as possible, but the coming World Cup still represents the first major tournament for which van Gaal has been at the helm. At the conclusion of the World Cup, van Gaal will become next manager of Manchester United.
Despite a reputation for stringent attachment to a 4-3-3 formation, van Gaal has consistently built systems around the talent at hand, rather than force his players into unfamiliar roles. He’s proven himself willing to shift tactics to get the most out of what he has, and the adoption of a 5-3-2 formation is yet another example of this.
Projected Starting XI
GK: Jasper Cillessen
LWB: Daley Blind
CB: Bruno Martins Indi
CB: Ron Vlaar
CB: Stefan de Vrij
RWB: Daryl Janmaat
LCM: Nigel de Jong
RCM: Jonathan de Guzman
CAM: Wesley Sneijder
FW: Arjen Robben
FW: Robin van Persie
Projected Substitutes
GK: Tim Krul
GK: Michael Vorm
DF: Paul Verhaegh
DF: Joel Veltman
DF: Terence Kongolo
MF: Georginio Wijnaldum
MF: Leroy Fer
MF: Jordy Clasie
FW: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
FW: Memphis Depay
FW: Dirk Kuyt
FW: Jeremain Lens
The Captain: Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie was the top scorer in UEFA qualifying with 11 goals in only nine appearances. The book on van Persie is well-known. He’s equally gifted as both a playmaker and a striker, able to find the open man on corners and hit the target on free-kicks. He’s come alive in international play under van Gaal’s stewardship as the team’s attack is just as likely to start with him as it is to end with him.
The Star: Arjen Robben
Every time Arjen Robben touches the ball, everyone watching — fans, teammates and opponents alike — knows what he’s going to do. He’ll sprint down the wing, cut in with his left foot past a defender near the edge of the box, find space, and then fire low and hard at the corner of the net. He does this all the time, and the fact that he continues to find success with the maneuver despite the opposing team being fully aware of his method is testament to his immense talent.
The Young Gun: Daley Blind
At 24-years old, Daley Blind is far from the youngest member of the Dutch World Cup squad, but no one in the 5-3-2 formation that Louis van Gaal has put in place will play a larger role in determining its success or failure. Blind's ability to play the left wing back and a central defensive midfield position gives the squad a measure of versatility it needs to succeed. In the lead up to the tournament, it was Blind who pushed up the most, acting as a link on the left side between the defense and the Sneijder/van Persie/Robben triumvirate up front.
The Swan Song: Wesley Sneijder
Four years ago, it was assumed that nothing could stop Wesley Sneijder. After the central midfielder led Inter to the Champions League title in 2010, Sneijder took control of the Dutch team at the World Cup in South Africa, seemingly willing the squad to an appearance in the finals. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was age catching up. Maybe it was all just a matter of bad luck, but in the years since reaching that pinnacle, Sneijder has experienced a sharp decline.
He now plies his trade in the Turkish league with Galatasaray, where he’s yet to regain his bulldog dominance. Now, at the ripe football age of 29, it seems unlikely to ever return. After being part of six major tournaments, it wouldn't be shocking for this to be Sneijder’s final international foray for the Dutch.
Hopefully, a new system that gives him freedom and space up front ignites a revival in the Dutch midfielder.
Three Questions
How will the young Dutch defense — with five at the back — cope with sustained pressure coming on the world’s biggest stage?
Will Robben’s soon-to-be 30-year-old hamstrings and ligaments hold up under the constant knocks from defenders over a tournament with little time for rest between matches?
Have we reached the end of the Sneijder/van Persie/Robben generation, and what kind of opportunities will the next generation receive?
Trivial Matters
Nicknames: Oranje, Clockwork Orange, The Flying Dutchmen.
Most caps: Edwin van der Sar (130).
Top scorer: Robin van Persie (41).
First international: April 30, 1905. Belguim 1 - Netherlands 4.
World Cup appearances: Ten, beginning in 1934.
Best World Cup result: Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010.
Your Moment of Voetbal
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