The Netherlands entered the FIFA 2022 World Cup as an international enigma. They produce some of the top talents on the European club scene but have been lacking at the international level for almost the last decade.
After a stellar performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they beat hosts Brazil 3-0 in the third-place match to finish third, it was nothing but disappointment for the Oranje.
They failed to qualify for Euro 2016 or the 2018 World Cup and were bounced out of the Round of 16 at Euro 2020.
Louis van Gaal, the manager for their 2014 World Cup run, returned to take charge last August after the Euro 2020 disappointment, and he has this talented group ready for a course correction in Qatar.
The Dutch are considered the strongest side in Group A due to the presence of hosts Qatar, but they will have their hands full with Senegal and Ecuador as well as any possible host increase.
Still, this top European club is a team bursting with talent, and they will prove a dangerous presence if they can make it to the knockouts, as expected. Anything less than a place in the quarterfinals could be a disappointment for the Dutch.
Netherlands World Cup Squad 2022
Manager Louis van Gaal cut his provisional squad to 26 players ahead of the FIFA deadline and put most of the key names on the plane to Qatar.
Barcelona duo Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong are included in this month’s pairing despite fitness concerns.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Remko Pasveer | Ajax (NED) | 38 | 2 |
| GK | 22 | Andries Noppert | Heerenveen (NED) | 28 | 0 |
| GK | 13 | Justin Bijlow | Feyenoord (NED) | 24 | 6 |
| DEF | 4 | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool (ENG) | 31 | 49 |
| DEF | 5 | Nathan Ake | Manchester City (ENG) | 27 | 29 |
| DEF | 26 | Jeremie Frimpong | Bayer Leverkusen (NED) | 21 | 0 |
| DEF | 6 | Stefan de Vrij | Inter (ITA) | 30 | 59 |
| DEF | 17 | Daley Blind | Ajax (NED) | 32 | 94 |
| DEF | 3 | Matthijs de Ligt | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 | 38 |
| DEF | 16 | Tyrell Malacia | Manchester United (ENG) | 23 | 6 |
| DEF | 2 | Jurrien Timber | Ajax (NED) | 21 | 10 |
| DEF | 22 | Denzel Dumfries | Inter (ITA) | 26 | 37 |
| MID | 21 | Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona (SPA) | 25 | 45 |
| MID | 14 | Davy Klassen | Ajax (NED) | 29 | 35 |
| MID | 25 | Xavi Simons | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 19 | 0 |
| MID | 11 | Steven Berghuis | Ajax (NED) | 30 | 39 |
| MID | 15 | Marten de Roon | Atalanta (ITA) | 31 | 30 |
| MID | 24 | Kenneth Taylor | Ajax (NED) | 20 | 2 |
| MID | 20 | Teun Koopmeiners | Atalanta (ITA) | 24 | 9 |
| FWD | 10 | Memphis Depay | Barcelona (SPA) | 28 | 81 |
| FWD | 7 | Steven Bergwijn | Ajax (NED) | 25 | 24 |
| FWD | 8 | Cody Gakpo | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 23 | 9 |
| FWD | 19 | Wout Weghorst | Besiktas (TUR) | 30 | 15 |
| FWD | 18 | Vincent Janssen | Royal Antwerp (BEL) | 28 | 20 |
| FWD | 9 | Luuk de Jong | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 32 | 38 |
| FWD | 12 | Noa Lang | Club Brugge (BEL) | 23 | 5 |
The Stars, Strengths, and Weaknesses of the Netherlands National Team
The Netherlands is looking to make a statement after years of international disappointment. They missed the 2018 World Cup in Russia and failed to make it out of the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
Manager Van Gaal is as experienced as they come, leading the Dutch side to the top of their World Cup qualifying group, with seven wins from 10.
Van Gaal’s coaching record is impressive – he managed Barcelona and Manchester United at the club level, as well as taking charge of the Oranje at the 2014 World Cup, where they finished third after beating hosts Brazil 3-0 in the third-place match.
STARS
The Netherlands are captained by Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who has emerged as one of the best players in the world during his time at Anfield. However, the Oranne leader has struggled for form at the club level this season, raising questions at the back for Van Gaal who has a wealth of options.
Their main scoring threat is Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, who has managed to maintain his international form despite playing a bench role for the Blaugrana.
POWERS
The Oranje have a wealth of young talent to choose from across the field, with PSV winger Cody Gakpo leading the revolution. Defenders Jurien Timber and Tyrell Malaysia are other young players to watch.
Defensively, the Dutch are extremely deep. Van Dijk may not be in form but he remains a top player, while Stefan de Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt, Jurien Timber and Daley Blind are all playing at a high level for their big European clubs.
Van Gaal will look to use this force using a three-CB system and get his best defenders on the field whenever he can.
WEAKNESS
The Dutch side’s biggest missing ingredient is experience. For all his success for club and country, Van Dijk has never played in a major international tournament. He missed Euro 2020 with an ACL tear, and the Netherlands did not qualify for both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.
After Van Dijk, former veteran leaders Georginio Wijnaldum and Bruno Martins have not made the Indy squad, leaving only Frankie de Jong and Daley Blind as other permanent members.
The Netherlands’ biggest weakness is undoubtedly the goalkeeper. Tim Krul was dropped by Van Gaal after missing a penalty training session in September and previous starter Jasper Cillessen lost his place to 38-year-old Ajax shot-stopper Remko Pasveer. There is a lot of uncertainty among the sticks for the Dutch.