The Netherlands enter the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as one of the favorites to win the competition, yet a nation that has never won the World Cup. We’ll have to see if the Dutch can stand up against strong contenders like Brazil and Spain. That is after first making it past Group A opponents Senegal, Qatar, and Ecuador. In the past, the Netherlands famously lost three World Cup finals, the most recent in 2010, and didn’t make it past the semifinals in 2014 under current head coach Louis van Gaal. The team was arguably better in South Africa and Brazil, but a renewed squad with a mix of youth and experience boasting Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Nathan Ake (Man City), and Memphis Depay (Barcelona), we might just be in for a surprise.
Quarterfinal: Netherlands vs. Argentina
Match | Date | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Netherlands vs. Argentina | December 9, 2022 | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
How to watch Netherlands vs. Argentina World Cup quarterfinal for free from anywhere
Territory | Language | Rights holder(s) | Price |
Australia | English | SBS | Free |
Belgium | French | RTBF (French) | Free |
Belgium | Dutch | VRT (Dutch) | Free |
France | French | TF1 | Free |
Germany | German | ARD | Free |
Germany | German | ZDF | Free |
Ireland | English | RTÉ | Free |
Italy | Italian | RAI | Free |
Netherlands | Dutch | NOS | Free |
Portugal | Portuguese | RTP | Free |
Spain | Spanish | RTVE | Free |
United Kingdom | English | ITV | Free |
Poland | Polski | TVP | Free |
Sweden | Svenska | SVT | Free |
Sweden | Svenska | TV4 | Free |
South Korea | Korean | SBS | Free |
South Korea | Korean | KBS | Free |
South Korea | Korean | MBC | Free |
Japan | Japanese | Dentsu | Free |
Denmark | Dansk | DR | Free |
Norway | Norsk | NRK | Free |
Finland | Finnish | Yle | Free |
Finland | Finnish | MTV3 | Free |
Brazil | Portuguese | TV Globo | Free |
Mexico | Spanish | Azteca7 | Free |
Mexico | Spanish | Televisa (vix) | Free |
Group stage: Netherlands World Cup fixtures and match schedule
Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
Mon, Nov. 21 | Senegal vs. Netherlands (Winner: Netherlands, 2-0) | 11 a.m. | Al Thumama Stadium |
Fri, Nov. 25 | Netherlands vs. Ecuador (Draw: 1-1) | 11 a.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
Tues, Nov. 29 | Netherlands vs. Qatar (Winner: 2-0) | 10 a.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
Final 26-man Netherlands World Cup roster
Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
Goalkeeper | Remko Pasveer | Ajax (NED) | 39 | 2 |
Goalkeeper | Andries Noppert | Heerenveen (NED) | 28 | 0 |
Goalkeeper | Justin Bijlow | Feyenoord (NED) | 24 | 6 |
Goalkeeper | Jasper Cillessen | NEC Nijmegen (NED) | 33 | 63 |
Goalkeeper | Mark Flekken | Freiburg (GER) | 29 | 4 |
Defender | Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool (ENG) | 31 | 49 |
Defender | Nathan Ake | Man City (ENG) | 27 | 29 |
Defender | Stefan de Vrij | Inter (ITA) | 30 | 59 |
Defender | Daley Blind | Ajax (NED) | 32 | 94 |
Defender | Matthijs de Ligt | Bayern Munich (GER) | 23 | 38 |
Defender | Tyrell Malacia | Man United (ENG) | 23 | 6 |
Defender | Jurrien Timber | Ajax (NED) | 21 | 10 |
Defender | Denzel Dumfries | Inter (ITA) | 30 | 36 |
Defender | Jeremie Frimpong | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 21 | 0 |
Midfielder | Xavi Simons | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 19 | 0 |
Midfielder | Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona (SPA) | 25 | 45 |
Midfielder | Davy Klaassen | Ajax (NED) | 29 | 35 |
Midfielder | Steven Berghuis | Ajax (NED) | 30 | 39 |
Midfielder | Marten de Roon | Atalanta (ITA) | 31 | 30 |
Midfielder | Ryan Gravenberch | Bayern Munich (GER) | 20 | 11 |
Midfielder | Kenneth Taylor | Ajax (NED) | 20 | 2 |
Midfielder | Teun Koopmeiners | Atalanta (ITA) | 24 | 9 |
Midfielder | Jordy Clasie | AZ Alkmaar (NED) | 31 | 17 |
Forward | Memphis Depay | Barcelona (SPA) | 28 | 81 |
Forward | Luuk de Jong | PSV (NED) | 32 | 38 |
Forward | Noa Lang | Club Brugge (BEL) | 23 | 5 |
Forward | Steven Bergwijn | Ajax (NED) | 25 | 24 |
Forward | Cody Gakpo | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | 23 | 9 |
Forward | Wout Weghorst | Besiktas (TUR) | 30 | 15 |
Forward | Vincent Janssen | Royal Antwerp (BEL) | 28 | 20 |
Forward | Donyell Malen | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 23 | 19 |
Star players in Netherlands world cup team
The key players for the Netherlands this World Cup seem to be Barcelona teammates Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay. Midfielder De Jong is a star when it comes to passing the ball and moving the team from box to box quickly. As for Barca striker Depay, he was the top goalscorer along with England’s Harry Kane in the UEFA qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup and is also the Dutch penalty taker, having scored 10 of 13 attempts. He’s just a couple of goals shy from breaking the country’s all-time record currently held by Robin van Persie (50 goals).
Who is Netherlands’ head coach?
Louis van Gaal is a Dutch former player who has gone on to manage the likes of Ajax, FC Barcelona, AZ, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United. He failed to help the Dutch squad qualify for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, but when he returned as head coach in 2012, he led the Oranje to a bronze medal after reaching the semi-finals at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Netherlands national team strengths & weaknesses
Though the Dutch squad showing up in Qatar may not be deemed as strong as the one that took third place in 2014, the Oranje is still a strong contender for the 2022 World Cup. What’s the team’s Achilles’ heel? And what might just help them finally take that World Cup home?
Strengths
The midfield is the arena where games are decided, and with one of the world’s strongest, controlling midfielders in Frenkie de Jong among the squad, the Netherlands is likely to dominate. Adding the talented Steven Berghuis and Davy Klaassen (both Ajax) to the mix and you have a recipe for success. Moreover, world-class players like Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), and Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich) offer the Oranje a solid defense. And as for the full-backs, experienced players like Daley Blind (Ajax), Tyrell Malacia (Man United), and Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) know how to stand their ground. Overall, the Dutch squad can count on a great mix of young talent and seasoned players.
Weaknesses
The Oranje don’t seem to have a first-choice keeper for the World Cup in Qatar, making this their weak spot. Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord) may be the best keeper for the Netherlands, yet he is prone to injuries. Jasper Cillessen and Mark Flekken were also given a shot but were axed from Van Gaal’s final squad with Remko Pasveer (Ajax) and Andries Noppert (Heerenveen) joining Bijlow in Qatar instead. Thirty-nine-year-old Pasveer joined Ajax from Vitesse Arnhem and was previously a backup keeper for PSV. Despite having played in the Champions League, Pasveer doesn’t have any experience in international tournaments.
FAQ: Netherlands 2022 World Cup squad
How many times did the Netherlands win the World Cup?
Although the Oranje are one of the favorites for the Qatar World Cup 2022 and been historically dominant, it’s never actually won the World Cup. On a record three occasions, they made it to the finals, without scoring that deciding winning goal: in 1974, 1978, and more recently in 2010, losing against Spain.
How many times has the Netherlands been in the World Cup?
The Netherlands has qualified for the World Cup ten times before. They didn’t manage to qualify for the last World Cup in 2018, which was the second time that happened since 1990, the other time being the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002.
How are the Netherlands good at football?
Football is the most popular sport in the Netherlands. Some people even prefer watching the Eredivisie than the World Cup. The sport is easily accessible and a lot of facilities are dedicated to training youth players. The knowledge of former players like Johan Cruyff is passed on to future generations.
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