For a footballing nation that is steeped in history and continues to churn out world-class players, participation at the World Cup every four years should be a relative formality for the Netherlands.
However, Oranje are returning to the global stage after an eight-year wait, Dick Advocaat's side missing out on a place at the 2018 tournament in Russia, and excitement is rising in a country that is still waiting to win the trophy.
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On their last two appearances, in 2010 and 2014 respectively, Netherlands came heartbreakingly close, while in 2019, they fell at the final hurdle in the UEFA Nations League when losing to Portugal in the final.
Given the quality elsewhere in the tournament, there is an argument that Netherlands have the freedom to play without pressure, yet that is not how Louis van Gaal will perceive matters as he bids to deliver the crowning moment for his country.
Here, Sports Mole previews Netherlands' chances at the upcoming tournament in Qatar.
GROUP
When the draw was made, Netherlands undoubtedly received one of the more favourable draws that were possible, yet that does not necessarily mean that their progress is a foregone conclusion.
Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal are first up in Doha, the Lions of Teranga being blessed with a wide array of Premier League talent, before 2021 Copa America quarter-finalists Ecuador await Van Gaal's men four days later.
Having been given extra time to acclimatise, a showdown with tournament hosts Qatar in the final game may come at the right time for the Netherlands, and they will hope to have already accumulated six points by the time that the fixture in Al Khor comes around.
FIXTURES
November 21: Senegal vs. Netherlands (4pm, Al Thumama Stadium, Doha)
November 25: Netherlands vs. Ecuador (4pm, Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan)
November 29: Netherlands vs. Qatar (3pm, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)
HOW THEY QUALIFIED
Having been drawn in a qualification group with Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia and Gibraltar, the Netherlands may have felt that they could breeze through Group G, but that idea went out the window as Frank de Boer's side succumbed to a 4-2 defeat in Turkey on matchday one.
All of a sudden, the next two encounters to Latvia and Gibraltar, the minnows of the group, became important for both nation and manager, and Netherlands responded with 2-0 and 7-0 wins respectively.
However, being eliminated at the last-16 stage of Euro 2020 resulted in De Boer's departure, leading to the return of Van Gaal, who began his reign with a 1-1 draw in Norway.
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Although they had dropped five points in four games, two difficult away fixtures were out of the way, and Netherlands proceeded to thrash Montenegro and Turkey by 4-0 and 6-1 scorelines within a week of their stalemate in Oslo.
Wins over Latvia and Gibraltar in October followed, but conceding two late goals in Montenegro led to a 2-2 draw in Podgorica, resulting in Netherlands being required to avoid defeat in their final fixture at home to Norway.
With 10 minutes remaining, the contest remained goalless, but strikes from Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay, taking his tally for the campaign to 12, ensured that the Netherlands finished two points clear in top spot.
RECENT FORM
Between the start of June and end of September, the Netherlands played six UEFA Nations League fixtures against Belgium, Wales and Poland.
Van Gaal's team travelled to Belgium for their most difficult fixture on matchday one, producing one of their most notable performances for a number of years as they prevailed by a 4-1 scoreline.
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That set the tone for the group and Oranje collected 16 points from a possible 18, their only slip-up coming at home to Poland as they came back from 2-0 down to claim a share of the spoils.
As well as netting goals in added-on time to defeat Wales on both occasions, Netherlands came through September's fixtures with Poland and Belgium with back-to-back wins and clean sheets, the 1-0 success over the latter particularly satisfying with the team needing to avoid defeat to finish in top spot.
SQUAD
Here it is. Our World Cup squad! 🦁🇳🇱#NothingLikeOranje | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/s4KMWBvJQU
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 11, 2022
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta BC), Marten de Roon (Atalanta BC), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)
STAR PLAYER - MEMPHIS DEPAY
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With Virgil van Dijk in the Dutch ranks, the Liverpool defender rightfully merits the tag of a key player in this team, but at a time when the 31-year-old has not been producing his best form in the Premier League, Netherlands may be more reliant on their efforts at the other end of the pitch.
Although he has been sidelined since the end of September, Memphis Depay is undoubtedly the star man in this squad, contributing 42 goals from 81 appearances for his country with 12 of those coming during qualifying.
During 2021, Depay scored a remarkable 17 times in 16 outings, 11 more than he has ever netted on the international stage in a single year, that level of return coming when he was not exactly firing on all cylinders for either Lyon or Barcelona.
The 28-year-old enters the tournament having played just 131 minutes for the latter during 2022-23, the last of those outings coming on September 17, but providing that he has fully recovered from a hamstring injury, there is little doubt that he will feature in the starting lineup against Senegal on November 21.
Depay's first two international goals came at a World Cup, netting against Australia and Chile respectively, and no-one would be surprised if he comfortably surpassed that total over the coming weeks.
MANAGER - LOUIS VAN GAAL
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As a result of his retirement in 2019 and his recent health issues, there have been times in Van Gaal's life when he may not have envisaged taking charge of his country for a third time, never mind at a World Cup.
However, since replacing De Boer in August 2021, Van Gaal has instigated an upturn in fortunes with this talented group of players, recording 11 wins and four draws from his 15 matches in charge.
Combining that spell with his previous two stints, the first coming between July 2000 and November 2001 and the second occurring between July 2012 and July 2014, the veteran has lost just four matches in 59 games as manager of the Netherlands, and that influence should not be overlooked heading into this tournament.
Just three players remain from the squad which agonisingly missed out on a second successive final eight years ago, yet there is a strong argument that Van Gaal is now in charge of a more-rounded group of players who possess higher quality.
With Van Gaal now 71 years of age, this could be his last hurrah, and his squad will be highly motivated to deliver for their manager as well as their country.
WORLD CUP RECORD
Best finish: Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010)
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Netherlands have one of the most peculiar World Cup records of all the major nations, combining three runners-up finishes with failure to qualify on four occasions since 1974.
While the final defeats to West Germany and Argentina in the 1970s hurt an expectant nation, the 2010 final defeat to Spain was devastating as Andres Iniesta netted the only goal of the game with four minutes of extra time remaining.
Netherlands, with Van Gaal in charge, responded with a third-placed finish in 2014, not losing a single game in normal or extra time and only succumbing to Argentina in the semi-finals on penalties, with host nation Brazil being emphatically defeated 3-0 in the third-place playoff.
Since then, Netherlands have been in disastrous form when it has come to major tournaments, most notably failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup as they finished behind France and Sweden in their group.
However, back on the big stage and with a highly-talented squad at his disposal, Van Gaal will be expected to deliver another appearance in the latter stages of this tournament.
PREDICTION
When the draw was made, Netherlands could have few complaints, and the carrot of securing a favourable last-16 tie is in front of them providing that they win Group A and England perform to their best in Group B.
However, there is every chance that Argentina could be lurking in the quarter-finals. While anything is possible in a knockout tie at that stage of a major tournament, we would side with the 2021 Copa America winners if that scenario came to fruition.
VERDICT: Quarter-final
Darren Plant
