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The road leading into the training facility that Holland uses for its World Cup base camp should be inviting, what with those “welkom” signs in Dutch making one of the world’s best teams feel right at home.
Even the street name Teal Rising Way — a tribute to the Kansas City Current, the National Women’s Soccer League franchise whose facility the Dutchmen use — has been temporarily changed to “Oranje Rising Way” for the next six weeks in honor of the team’s orange colors.
But perhaps someone should have reconsidered the white signs marking important World Cup milestones for the Netherlands.
Each one is a reminder that the country has still never won the tournament.
“How far can we go? Yes, hopefully all the way,” said defender Virgil van Dijk, who will appear in his second World Cup and will once again captain the Dutch team when it begins group play against Japan on Sunday in Dallas.
“We know how difficult it will be,” the Liverpool player acknowledged after a recent training session held under an unrelenting Midwest sun that pushed the heat index towards triple digits. “But our full focus will first of all be on Japan. It will get all our attention. We will not look too far ahead. But we all have big dreams and we will give everything we have.”
The Dutch have reached three World Cup finals but still haven’t won it all
The Dutch have long held the unwelcome label of best nation for never having won the World Cup trophy. In fact, they are the only nation to reach three finals without a triumph.
In 1974, Holland had returned to the World Cup after a drought of almost four decades, and Johan Cruyff’s dazzling play had taken them all the way to the final. There, the Dutch faced host West Germany and its star player, Franz Beckenbauer. The Netherlands quickly scored on penalties but West Germany responded with two goals before the break and the Dutch were unable to find the back of the net in the second half in front of a crowd of more than 78,000 at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
It was disappointing, to be sure, but ask any Dutch fan and they’ll say 1978 stung even more.
Once again, facing the host nation in the final, Argentina led 1-0 at half-time before Dick Nanninga equalized in the 82nd minute. The match remained tied in extra time as Mario Kempes scored his second goal of the game for the hosts Argentina and Daniel Bertoni added another goal in front of a raucous crowd at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The Dutch reached their third final in 2010 when they faced Spain for the title in Johannesburg, South Africa. That match was also decided in extra time after the teams had played to a stalemate, with Andrés Iniesta scoring in the 116th minute.
Strong results in some recent World Cups give the Dutch reason to believe
The Netherlands reached the semi-finals in 2014 before inexplicably failing to qualify in 2018. But it was back to 2022 in Qatar with van Dijk in charge. The Dutch rolled through group stage conceding a single goal, then dominated the USA in the round of 16 before losing to eventual champions Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals.
But take away penalty shootouts and the Dutch are unbeaten in their last 12 games at the World Cup. The only nation with a longer such streak is Brazil, who went 13 games in a row following Pele’s brilliance between 1958 and 1966.
“I think we have a great group of players, especially people. We get on so well with each other,” van Dijk said. “But of course it’s about the results. It’s about performing. All the players who are here, especially over the years – these are players who have played at the highest level and experienced great things in their careers. Winning trophies. Playing for the biggest clubs.”
“They come together here and try to make their country proud. That’s the biggest thing you can do.”
While the Dutch are favored to get out of their group, the road to the knockout rounds will not be easy. The trio of Japan, Sweden and Tunisia represent a difficult run of fixtures and coach Ronald Koeman’s side have struggled with injuries; defender Jurrien Timber is already out with a groin injury and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen is nursing a recent hip injury.
It is unclear whether Verbruggen will play on Sunday against Japan.
“We know Japan is strong. We have analyzed the team and the players,” Koeman said. “We talked about their system, usually where they play out of, and the physical condition of their players. It’s difficult. But we believe in ourselves. We respect Japan, but we are Holland and they will respect us. I think it will be an interesting game, and a difficult game.”
Report from the Associated Press.
