The Netherlands nearly ended their twelfth European Championship qualification campaign with a perfect 100% record. With Euro 2012 next on the agenda a revitalised L'Oranje side go into the tournament with confidence. A group of players, mainstay of the squad for nearly a decade, will attempt to end a 24-year wait for silverware. However straight straight off the bat they will be tested as they've been drawn in the so called 'group of death' against historical rivals Germany, Portugal and Denmark.
The draw
"It's the toughest group, everyone agrees on that. I have met all the coaches and none of them looked happy," was the immediate reaction of Coach Bert van Marwijk. "It's a huge challenge, this group. We just have to win it; I mean if you want to play a role of importance, you need to win the first match. Everything should be focused on that from now on."
All three teams are no strangers to meeting L’Oranje none more so than Germany, whose recent friendly win, 3-0 in Hamburg, being their biggest over the Dutch in more than 50 years gives them a sort of psychological edge. However the result in part is misleading due to the absence of key Dutch players which manager Joachim Löw stressed. It will be the 39th meeting of the two rivals, and the fifth at the European Championships, so far 2-1 in Oranje's favour.
As for Portugal it will be the 11th encounter, with Oranje sole victory against the Iberian side coming in the second ever contest back in 1991. And in the year of the 100th anniversary of Denmark’s first game against the Dutch, the sides can look forward to the 31st duel. Despite the predicament a confident Van Marwijk remains bullish and the year they have had every reason to be.
What a difference a year makes
"The best team in world football," Gavril Balint, coach of Moldova, enthusiastically described the team he was about to lock horns with. A contrast to last August, when Bert van Marwijk’s side engulfed in a solemn atmosphere, travelled to Donetsk. It was their first game since losing in the World Cup final a month prior and the heartbreak was still fresh. A year on, things couldn't be more different.
"I didn’t want to play the game, and we asked the Ukrainian FA to postpone it, but they weren’t willing to do that," Van Marwijk recalled. "My own motivation was lacking, and I didn’t hide that fact. I think you should always be honest with your players, rather than pretending or disguising your feelings." Instead of staying in the doldrums, the easy way out, Van Marwijk noted for his man-management set about removing any remnants of self-pity: "I told them the same thing again and again during the World Cup: we have a mission."
In truth the journey to Poland and Ukraine has been straightforward, the hard-fought 2-1 victory at home against Finland early on being the exception. The defeat to Sweden away, on the final matchday where not much was riding on it aside from the unbeaten record, was Van Marwijk's first competitive loss inside ninety minutes. His record now stands as: 25 matches played, 23 wins, one draw and the solitary defeat. His overall record still reads well. The game against Sweden in Solna was his 43rd (32 wins, 11 draws and 2 defeats in 90 minutes) in charge the goal return is 97 with just 30 conceded.
His win total of 32 is only four behind Bob Glendenning's all-time record by a Dutch national team manager. Victory in Rotterdam against Moldova was the tenth consecutive victory on home soil equalling the previous record set between 1970 and 1973. And who can forget the 11-0 rout of San Marino, the biggest ever win in Oranje's 106 year history.
There's a common cliché in football (and all sports) that goes you're 'only as good as your last game'. If your significance and self-worth are determined by your last performance on the pitch, then you have a problem. Even the greatest of sports teams – and individuals – cannot achieve to the same standard all the time. The defeat to Sweden will be treated as a bad day in the office, though it's still a defeat and lessons will be drawn from it as well as being used as a wakeup call, putting things into perspective it shouldn’t overshadow the last twelve months of progression.
A change of system
One of the subplot's of the campaign has been the alteration of his system. In the months after last summer's World Cup, borne out of necessity rather than design, he slowly distanced himself from the reactive model that served him well in the first two years of his tenure. Instead he's allowed a more fluid proactive style, short-distance precession passing, to take shape.
Not only has the football improved, from an aesthetic point of view, but as a by-product they've tightly controlled games as possession and pressing becomes paramount. Against Balint's side for example they had 80% of it in the first half. This is not to say Holland haven't been an attack-minded outfit in his first two years, they have, the major difference being the choice of build-up style. The current is more closely related with circulation football a method engrained in Dutch DNA.
The crazy 5-3 win over Hungary – as well as shipping in three against Sweden – in which lackadaisical defending threatened to undermine the new approach, only reinforced Van Marwijk's belief concentration not talent will be the difference between the Dutch triumphing and failing. Before the extraordinary collapse against Sweden, conceding two in as many minutes after leading 2-1, the Dutch had a pretty solid defensive record in the group, only conceding five in total. The total ended with eight Maarten Stekelenburg only letting in just the two.
Since his appointment in August 2008 Van Marwijk has been his own man, refusing to listen to discerning voices, not wavering from the task at hand. He's taken L'Oranje from also-rans into realistic challengers one that has earned respect from their peers. Including Germany boss Joachim Löw who was quick to point out the threat of a new look Dutch side next summer.
Reflection, renewal and the Barça effect
The lost final in Johannesburg still preys on his mind. When Ruud Krol proclaimed Spain to be the metaphorical heirs of 'total football' and Johan Cruijff not hiding his displeasure of the Dutch losing their identity. It hurt, however this allowed a moment of reflection, firstly to seek solace in the achievements that got them to the final – one let's not forget they could have won – and most importantly learning from the defeat. Van Marwijk: "What's motivating us now is a desire to draw lessons from the final that we lost, and to make the most of that experience."
From disappointment to renewal, the shackles – pragmatism – removed allowing his players greater freedom to express themselves. The joie de vivre that encapsulated their predecessors returned. It might come across as outlandish in saying L’Oranje are a completely different beast from the side that came close to glory in South Africa but the undeniable truth is they are. An inspiration came in the shape of FC Barcelona. One of the positives of their rise over the last three years is how much their brand of football is owed to the Dutch school. Xavi Hernández: "Our model was imposed by [Johan] Cruijff; it's an Ajax model." This has evidently tapped into the psyche.
At club level Frank de Boer is reinventing his Ajax side by instilling the lost philosophy of mentors Louis van Gaal and Johan Cruijff, both especially the former impacting greatly on the modern Barcelona. Whilst Co Adriaanse, already a disciple of the attacking game, on arrival at FC Twente declared: "The ideal situation for me is to create a team that approaches the way Barcelona plays and the squad I found in Enschede is perfect to chase my goals."
In a recent interview Frank de Boer, when asked if there's any Dutch influence in Pep Guardiola's Barça, he spoke about their 'pressure play', how greatly he's impressed by it – with their turnaround: from losing possession to retaining it in mere seconds – and commented the likelihood his former teammate drew inspiration (and greatly enhanced it) from former manager Louis van Gaal, who was also noted to use the method. It comes as no surprise, when Ronald de Boer then revealed, Guardiola is a self-confessed lover of Dutch football. "He always talked about total football, forward pressing, about what Johan [Cruijff] taught him and about Dutch players. Pep has that urge to attack and to dominate, a bit like the Dutch play."
The change of system and approach resulted in the much lauded 4-0 win over Hungary in Budapest. On the pitch the rejuvenated style was plain for all to see. The Dutch defence, midfield and attacking lines played much closer to each other, increased mobility, fluidity and synergy in midfield allowed their passing game to flourish. Rafael van der Vaart – the man of the match – commented how akin the football was to Barça's. A thought echoed by teammate Ibrahim Afellay, currently playing with the Catalan giants. Most commentators agreed, as well as being careful not to get carried away, labelling some of the play worthy of 'tiki-taka'.
Strength in numbers
It's even more remarkable, in the ten qualifiers played, there's been five different midfield combinations deployed in part due to injuries throughout the campaign (in brackets for and against): Van Bommel, Nigel de Jong, Sneijder (7-1); Van Bommel, Van der Vaart, Sneijder (5-1); Nigel de Jong, Van der Vaart, Sneijder (9-3); Van Bommel, Strootman, Sneijder (13-0) and Van Bommel, Strootman, Van der Vaart (3-3). The penultimate trio helped in part by the 11-0 demolition of San Marino. The one prior, consisting of ex-Ajax teammates, combined for the team goal of the campaign in Budapest.
The first triumvirate which used throughout the World Cup and in the first two qualifiers (San Marino, away and Finland, home), basic shape: two defensive midfielders and a number 10, has since been been dropped in favour of a deep-lying creator alongside a defensive midfielder with a trequartista in front. This has brought great verve, creativity and control to a Dutch midfield that has shaped into formidable unit with the tools to best if not equal the finest in Europe.
Last summer the front three were: Dirk Kuyt, Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben. Due to the persistent injury of the Bayern Munich winger, Van Marwijk like he has done with the midfield has had to adjust, with five different combinations played. And like in the centre of the pitch with minimal disruption. The different attacks (in brackets for and against): Kuyt, Huntelaar, Elia (5-0); Van der Vaart, Huntelaar, Afellay (2-1); Kuyt, Huntelaar, Afellay (4-1); Kuyt, Van Persie, Afellay (9-3); Kuyt, Huntelaar, Van Persie (16-3). The latter being utilised the most in four games.
Holland ended the qualification phase with 37 goals Klaas-Jan Huntelaar responsible for twelve. The former Ajax man is riding a crest of wave with the national team, often not guaranteed a starting role, no one can deny when the opportunity has presented itself he's taken it with both hands. 14 goals in his last 12 internationals since the World Cup has earned him the right to wear the number '9' shirt. He's also 11 goals away from breaking the national record, currently owned by Patrick Kluivert (40 goals in 79 games), Huntelaar has 30 from 48 appearances.
The formation of choice is 4-2-3-1, a number nine supported by two inverted wingers and a trequartista, an interesting feature is the playmaking capacity of the wide men: both often drifting in when doing so their position taken up by the full-backs. The consistent high level performance despite an ever changing midfield and attack has – to an extent – shows strength in depth. In the words of Van Marwijk a "luxury problem" to have once everyone is fit and available for selection.
A generation looking for fulfillment
Wesley Sneijder, another standout performer in Budapest, afterwards was put in the same esteem company as Xavi and Andrés Iniesta by former manager Marco van Basten. The Internazionale playmaker has created 28 goalscoring opportunities for his teammates during the campaign and has been a player reborn.
Playing with freedom as a trequartista he's often dropped deep to dictate the play – with his short and long passing – rotating with the regista. This was notable against Hungary as his and Van der Vaart’s constant switching and movement (on and off the ball) hurt the opposition just as well as their rapid circulation of the ball.
Age hasn’t been a talking point, though it's the elephant in the room, Sneijder will be 27 when Euro 2012 kicks-off. It will be his fifth international tournament with L'Oranje. Three more than Johan Cruyff and two more than Marco van Basten. In the last two years he’s turned touted early promise into reality. The fulcrum of the side, one of the premier players in world football, much will rest on him but the burden lessens with the calibre of players around him, much of the squad is roughly the same age with equal wealth of experience.
Arjen Robben will be 28; Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the same age; Rafael van der Vaart, approaching 100 caps, 29 the same as Maarten Stekelenburg. Mark van Bommel the captain 35, Joris Mathijsen 32, Dirk Kuyt 31. Nigel de Jong and Johnny Heitinga 27 whereas Ibrahim Afellay, if he recovers in time, 26.
Every one of the names – with more than 700 caps combined – has featured prominently under Van Marwijk, it would be foolish to suggest it will be their last tournament, but it's realistic to assume a high percentage will not be at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, meaning next summer could be the last of this generation as a collective. Van Marwijk, who is expected to sign an extension to his contract taking him to at least 2014, knows and in the last 18 months made sure the future’s safeguarded.
Already 23 players have won their first cap under him including: Michel Vorm, Tim Krul, Gregory van der Wiel, Jeffrey Bruma, Erik Pieters, Kevin Strootman, Georginio Wijnaldum, Eljero Elia, Jeremain Lens and Luuk de Jong all under-25 (bar Vorm) and featured in the last squad. Van der Wiel and Pieters are the first choice full-back whereas Strootman, who has greatly impressed in his short time with the set-up, will compete with Van der Vaart and Nigel de Jong in playing alongside Van Bommel. Luuk de Jong rise and eye-catching performances at FC Twente has made him the third choice striker.
Lessons from history
Since triumphing in 1988 the fortunes of L'Oranje can be best described as mixed. A disappointing 1990 World Cup, where an alleged mutiny took place, was followed by reaching the semi-finals of Euro 1992 crashing out on penalties. A better performance in USA 94 saw them dumped out by eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals the same exit in Euro 96.
The last great generation reached the semi-finals in 1998 but again fell to penalties two years later in Rotterdam it was Groundhog Day. Under Louis van Gaal they failed to reach the 2002 World Cup, first missed tournament since 1986, Dick Advocaat returned for Euro 2004 and again the Dutch made the semis but couldn't progress any further.
Marco van Basten brought an air of freshness but his insistence his squad was not ready to win the 2006 World Cup proved correct as Portugal who eliminated them in 2004 were the victors in the Battle of Nuremberg. In fairness things got a little better in 2008 as a new swagger had many take notice but Guus Hiddink’s equally exciting Russia put pay to the Van Basten revolution.
Greater challenges await this current crop, in the eyes of Rafael van der Vaart the best since France 1998, once the festivities begin. Not many expected the Dutch to go far last summer and the same it seems next year but one thing's for certain a renewed approach coupled with players at the peak of their powers gives L'Oranje every chance of equalling the feat of Rinus Michels class of 1988.
One could argue lady luck hasn't always worn orange. The same was true against Spain last July, who could meet Van Marwijk’s men in the final in Kiev – if they get there. After a freak set out circumstances saw them on top of the world, albeit for a month, Van Marwijk has thrown down the gauntlet to his players and the nation as a whole, to make the next four years a golden period in Dutch football history.
