Netherlands national football team players, coach, FIFA world rankings, World Cup

Netherlands national football team players, coach, FIFA world rankings, World Cup

Helix Odhiambo
updated at August 9, 2023 at 9:30 AM

The Netherlands national football team is one of the top soccer teams in the world. The Dutch have recorded outstanding results over the years and play one of the most attractive football. Join us as we look into the team's history and achievements.

Netherlands national football team players
Steven Bergwijn of Holland celebrates a goal during their 1-1 draw with Germany, in a friendly match at the Johan Cruijff Arena, on 29 March, 2022, in Amsterdam. Photo: ANP
Source: Getty Images

Netherlands' football style is generally based on keeping possession of the ball. Some of Dutch's legendary players include Johan Cruijff, Ruud Gullit, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder. So, what is the Netherlands national football team's nickname? When was it founded? Find out more below.

Profile summary

  • Full name: Netherlands national football team
  • Nickname: The Flying Dutchmen, Oranje Holland
  • Founded: 1889
  • Managed by: Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB)
  • FIFA affiliation: 21 May 1904
  • UEFA affiliation: 15 June 1954
  • FIFA code: NED
  • Stadiums: Johan Cruyff Arena, De Kuip, Philips Stadion
  • Colours: Orange, white, and black
  • Current coach: Louis van Gaal
  • Captain: Virgil van Dijk
  • World ranking: 10 (as of May 2022)
  • Best ranking: 1 (2011)
  • Lowest ranking: 36 (2017)
  • All-time top scorer: Robin Van Persie (50 goals)
  • Most appearance: Wesley Sneijder (134)
  • Twitter: @OnsOranje
  • Instagram: @onsoranje, @e_oranje
  • YouTube: OnsOranje
  • Website: www.onsoranje.nl

Netherlands national football team history

Netherlands' national football team ranking
The Dutch team pose for a group photo at the 1928 Olympic Games, before their 2-0 defeat to Uruguay in Amsterdam. Photo: Bob Thomas
Source: Getty Images

The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) manages the Netherlands national football team. KNVB was founded on 8 December, 1889, as the Netherlands Football and Athletics Association (NVAB). It rebranded to Netherlands Football Association in 1895 before changing to the current KNVB, in 1929.

The team has evolved since playing its first competitive match in 1905. Then, the Flying Dutchmen beat Belgium 4-1 in extra time after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

Has the Netherlands won the World Cup?

Netherlands national football team World Cup
The Dutch team line up ahead of the 1974 World Cup final at the Olympic Stadium in Munich, Germany. Holland lost 2-1 to the hosts. Photo: Werner Baum
Source: Getty Images

Netherlands national football team's World Cup campaign has not been successful despite reaching three different finals (1974, 1978, 2010).

1974

Led by the legendary Johan Cruyff, Holland's first golden generation swept aside Brazil and Argentina to reach their first World Cup final. However, their dreams were shuttered following a 2-1 defeat to West Germany.

1978

The Dutch team reached a second consecutive final in 1978 but lost 3-1 to Argentina. The South Americans scored two goals in extra time to lift their first World Cup title.

2010

It took the Flying Dutchmen 32 years to reach yet another final, thanks to the generation of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder. But, unfortunately, they lost 1-0 to Spain after conceding an extra-time goal from Andres Iniesta.

Holland reached the World Cup semifinals in 1998 and 2014 but failed to qualify for the 2018 edition.

Netherlands national football team trophies

Netherlands national football team trophies
Holland's Frank Rijkaard raises the European Championship trophy after beating the USSR in the final, on 25 June, 1988, in Munich, West Germany. Photo: Bob Thomas
Source: Getty Images

Holland's most outstanding achievement is winning the 1988 European Championship after beating the Soviet Union in the final. Goals from Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten helped the Flying Dutchmen to a 2-0 win to lift the coveted title.

Olympic games

The Dutch have featured in several Olympic games but have never won the gold medal. Their best result was winning bronze medals on four different occasions (1908, 1912, 1920, 2008).

Netherlands national football team world rankings

According to the latest FIFA ranking, Holland is in position 10 globally with 1653.73 points. Its highest ranking was position one with 1596 points in August 2011, while the lowest was 36 with 734 points in August 2017.

In Europe, the Netherlands' national football team ranking is 8, which means they are among the top teams in the continent.

Netherlands national football team roster

Netherlands national football team world rankings
Dutch players warm up during a training session at the KNVB Campus on 21 March, 2022, in Zeist, Netherlands. Photo: Broer van den Boom
Source: Getty Images

The Dutch boast of some of the top talents in world football, including Virgil van Dijk, Frankie De Jong, Memphis Depay, and Georgino Wijnaldum. Below is a list of Netherlands national football team players in 2022, and their respective positions and clubs.

Goalkeepers

  • Tim Krul (Norwich)
  • Mark Flekken (SC Freiburg)
  • Joel Drommel (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders

  • Daley Blind (Ajax)
  • Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
  • Nathan Aké (Manchester City)
  • Hans Hateboer (Atalanta)
  • Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan)
  • Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)
  • Jordan Teze (PSV Eindhoven)
  • Owen Wijndal (AZ Alkmaar)
  • Tyrell Malacia (Feyenoord)
  • Jurriën Timber (Ajax)

Midfielders

  • Georginio Wijnaldum (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Marten de Roon (Atalanta)
  • Jordy Clasie (Jordy Clasie)
  • Davy Klaassen (Ajax)
  • Frenkie deJong (Barcelona)
  • Guus Til ( Feyenoord)
  • Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta)

Fowards

  • Steven Berghuis (Ajax)
  • Memphis Depay (Barcelona)
  • Wout Weghorst (Burnley )
  • Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur)
  • Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal)
  • Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven)
  • Noa Lang (Club Brugge)
  • Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)

Netherlands national football team captain

Netherlands national football team captain
Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk and head coach Louis van Gaal during their World Cup qualifier match against Norway at Ullevaal Stadium, on 1 September, 2021, in Oslo, Norway. Photo: Maurice Van Steen
Source: Getty Images

Van Dijk is currently the skipper of the Dutch team. He was appointed in March 2018 by the then manager, Ronaldo Koeman, ahead of their friendly against England in Amsterdam.

Netherlands national football team coach

Veteran tactician Louis van Gaal returned as the head coach of the Holland squad for the third time to replace Frank de Boer in August 2021.

Who is the best football player in the Netherlands?

Johan Cruyff is considered the country's best player of all time. He was the mastermind of the 1970s dream team that played beautiful football. Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or three times in 1971, 1973 and 1974.

Who is the best football player in the Netherlands?
Johan Cruyff controls the ball during their 1974 World Cup final against West Germany. He is considered the best ever Dutch footballer in history. Photo: Peter Robinson
Source: Getty Images

The Dutch legend also introduced a unique style of playing based on keeping possession, commonly referred to as Total Football. Other top stars from the nation include Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Edwin van der Sar, Ruud Gullit, and Ronald Koeman.

Netherlands fixtures and results

The Flying Dutchmen's last match was a friendly against Germany at the Johan Cruijff Arena on 29 March, 2022, that ended in a 1-1 draw. The Dutch have won three of their past five games.

They return to action in June 2022 when they take on Belgium in their Nations League Group A4 match.

Past five games

  • NED 6-0 Gibraltar (World Cup Qualifier)
  • Montenegro 0-2 NED (World Cup Qualifier)
  • NED 2-0 Norway (World Cup Qualifier)
  • NED 4-2 Denmark (friendly)
  • NED 1-1 Germany (friendly)

Fixtures

  • Belgium vs NED (UEFA Nations League) - 3 June 2022
  • Wales vs NED (UEFA Nations League) - 6 June 2022
  • NED vs Poland (UEFA Nations League) - 11 June 2022
  • NED vs Wales (UEFA Nations League) - 13 June 2022
  • Poland vs NED (UEFA Nations League) - 22 September 2022

The Netherlands national football team remains one of the best globally, despite not winning the World Cup. Perhaps 2022 could be their year with the new crop of talented stars.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.