Dutch Football: Back from the Dead
The Dutch football team is one with a great legacy, of prestige, and of winning. From the time of their first Golden Generation, in the 1970s, they have been a serious contender in international football. At the time, it was Johan Cruyff who invigorated the team with ‘Total Football’, making them an almost unplayable side.
Netherlands most recent golden generation was unarguably the team that played from 2008 to 2014, making it to the World Cup Final in 2010 and World Cup Semi-Finals in 2014. This generation boasted the likes of Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and others who were hugely successful at their clubs too.
However, following that period of success, there have been turbulent times for the Dutch. They could not qualify for the Euro 2016, the first time they haven’t qualified since 1984. This poor form continued as they failed to qualify for the World Cup 2018 too.
Now, however, they have qualified into the knockout stages of Euro 2020, winning all of their games so far. They have scored the most goals in the tournament. They are serious contenders, with hopes of making it at least to the quarter-finals, and beyond. So, what caused this change in fortune?
What Changed?
The first reason has been an infusion of young talent into the squad. The likes of Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt have brought a wave of energy into the team’s play. They are playing more Total Football than ever before, dominating possession, passing in quick succession, and employing a high counter-press.
This realisation was sparked by a change in the coaching staff. Ronald Koeman did a good job of kicking things off with the team. Although he wasn’t as successful, he sparked the start of something great. This was carried forward by current coach Frank de Boer, whose brilliance is seen in the way the Dutch play on the pitch.
The players too have more confidence after experiencing domestic and continental success at the club level. De Jong, de Ligt and others found their place in world football after an odds-defying season at Ajax, where they reached the Champions League semi-finals. Gini Wijnaldum, the Dutch captain, won the Champions League and Premier League with Liverpool. Memphis Depay has finally found form after a successful season with Lyon.
All in all, this Dutch team is looking exciting, and holds a lot of promise for the future. While they may not win the Euro 2020 against the stalwarts of France and Portugal, they are setting high expectations for themselves, and are sure to put on a good show in the years to come. It may just be the beginning of another Golden Generation.
