Netherlands National Football Team

The Netherlands National Team is the football team which represents the country of Holland in international soccer competition. The team has been quite successful over years, becoming the runners up in the FIFA Word Cup in 74 and 78, and winning the 1978 Euro Cup. Legends such as Dutch Golden Shoe winner Johan Cruijff, defender Ruud Krol, and the versatile Ruud Gullit have once worn the famous orange kits. Currently, under the management of Marco van Basten and captaining of Edwin van der Sar. the squad is winning the Euro 2008. Arsenal player Robin Van Persie is also a key to the team’s success.

The Netherlands- a History of Success

Founded in 1889, the Netherlands National Football Team is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) . The first appearance of the Dutch national team in an official competition was at the 1934 World Cup. From 1950 till 1970 the Orangemen did not play in the finals of any international competition, but had strengthened their team in order to be able to considered competitors in the later years. In the 70s, the Netherlands were one of the best national teams in the world. They even came up with a new play called Total Football and they reached 2 World Cup finals in a row, in 1974 and 1978. During this time period Johan Cruijff was the most versatile player on the squad due to his ability to play anywhere on the field. In 1988, the Dutch National Team won the European Championship. In the 1990s the Orangeman did well on the international level. They went far in both the Euro and World Cup, even reaching the semi-final in 1998. Around this time period Clarence Seedorf began his career the Dutch team. Ten years later, the teammates of Wesley Sneijderwant want to win their second international title, as they compete in the Euro 2008.