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Over the last five years, the Netherlands national team has been one of the major disappointments in world football. Despite having a number of talented players in the squad, the Netherlands failed to qualify for either the Euro 2016 or the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Netherlands produced some of the best teams the world of football has ever seen. The Dutch national team were one of the most feared and entertaining teams that consisted of players and coaches that revolutionized the way football was played and seen.
Since failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Netherlands have managed to make progress under the management of Ronald Koeman and then Frank de Boer. They finished second in Euro 2020 qualifying Group C, two points behind table-toppers Germany.
Frank de Boer's side are currently the favorites to win Group C at Euro 2020 which also contains Ukraine, Australia, North Macedonia. The Dutchman will be without talismanic defender Virgil van Dijk, but has a number of attacking players who could cause problems for their opponents during Euro 2020.
The history of Dutch football and the quality of players the country has produced in the past will automatically put them in the spotlight during Euro 2020.
On that note, let's take a look at the Greatest Netherlands XI of all time:
#11 Edwin van der Sar, goalkeeper
The legendary Netherlands and Manchester United shot-stopper is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers of the 2000s. Edwin Van der Sar is his country's second most capped player with 130 appearances for the country.
He was the starting goalkeeper for the Dutch team that finished fourth at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, third at Euro 2000, and third at Euro 2004. Despite failing to win a trophy with his national team, Van der Sar is the best goalkeeper the Netherlands have ever produced.
At the club level he won four Eridivisies with Ajax, four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Champions league at Manchester United. He was voted the Dutch Goalkeeper of the Year for four consecutive years between 1994 and 1997, and won the Premier League Golden Glove award for the 2008-09 season.
#10 Giovanni van Bronckhorst, left-back
The Netherlands has never been a country that has been renowned for producing great defenders. However, former Barcelona and Arsenal left-back Giovanni van Bronckhorst was considered to be one of the best left-backs in the world during his playing days.
He made 106 appearances for his country and captained the Dutch side that reached the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He represented his country at Euro 2000, 2004, 2008 and the 1998, 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups.
At the club level, Van Bronckhorst won two Scottish Premier League titles with Rangers, the Premier League and the FA Cup whilst at Arsenal, and two La Liga titles and the Champions League during his time with Barcelona. He received the Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 2010 for his services to the Netherlands national team.
#9 Frank de Boer, defender
The current manager of the Netherlands national team was once one of his country's best players. Frank de Boer was the first Dutch player to play 100 times for his country.
Frank de Boer captained the Netherlands to fourth place place at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and third place at Euro 2000. He also represented his country at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Euro 1996 and Euro 2004.
At the club level, de Boer spent most of his career at Dutch giants Ajax and Spanish side Barcelona. During his eleven seasons with Ajax, he won five Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups, and a UEFA Cup. He helped Barcelona win a La Liga title during his five seasons with the club. De Boer is set to manage a youthful-looking Netherlands side at Euro 2020.
#8 Ronald Koeman, defender
Ronald Koeman's versatility allowed him to play both as a defender and a deep-lying midfielder for the Netherlands national side. The current Barcelona coach was a part of the legendary Dutch team of the 1980's.
Koeman was one of the stars of the Netherlands national team that won UEFA Euro 1988. He also played a starring role for the Netherlands at Euro 1992, where they finished in third place, as well as the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups, captaining the team at the latter.
Ronald Koeman made 78 appearances for his country and scored 14 goals. At the club level, Koeman was part of a Barcelona team dubbed Johan Cruyff's 'dream team'. He helped the club win four consecutive La Liga titles from 1991 to 1994, and the UEFA Cup in the 1991-92 season.
#7 Frank Rijkaard, defensive midfielder
Like Ronald Koeman, Frank Rijkaard possessed the skill and versatility to play as a defender or as a defensive midfielder for both club and country. Often deployed as a deep-lying midfielder, Rijkaard is widely considered one of the best defensive midfielders of all time, and one of the greatest players of his generation.
Rijkaard made 73 appearances for the Netherlands national team, and was part of the side that won Euro 1988 and finished in third place at Euro 1992. Rijkaard's physical attributes and defensive discipline allowed the likes of Marco van Basten to play with freedom while going forward.
At club level, Rijkaard spent his entire career with Ajax and AC Milan. He won three Eredivisies and three KNVB Cups with Ajax. Whilst at AC Milan, Rijkaard helped the club win four Serie A titles and three UEFA Champions Leagues. He was part of the AC Milan side that was considered to be one of the best club teams in football history.
#6 Ruud Gullit, midfielder
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, Ruud Gullit was also part of the famous Netherlands team that won Euro 1988. Gullit made 66 appearances for his country, during which he scored 17 goals.
During his peak, Gullit was considered the best footballer in the world at club level. He won the Ballon d'Or in 1987 and was named the World Soccer Player of the Year in 1987 and 1989.
Gullit won Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1984 and 1986, Dutch Golden Shoe in 1986, and Dutch Sportsman of the year in 1987. Along with the likes of Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard and Ronald Koeman, Gullit revolutionized Dutch football during the 1980s.
#5 Arjen Robben, winger
One of the greats of modern football, Arjen Robben defined the role of an inverted winger during his time at Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich. The left-footed maestro is known for his pace, dribbling and shooting abilities.
Arjen Robben was the Netherlands' talisman during the peak of his career, and led the country to the finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also represented Netherlands at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, and Euro 2004, 2008, and 2012. Robben scored 37 goals for his country in 96 appearances.
At club level, Robben rose to prominence during his time with Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups. Robben developed into one of the best wingers in the world during his time with Bayern Munich.
He won eight Bundesligas and a Champions League during his time with Bayern Munich. Robben famously scored the winning goal in the 2012-13 Champions League final for Bayern Munich against Dortmund in the final ten minutes of the game.
#4 Dennis Bergkamp, attacking midfielder
One of the finest foreign players to ever play in the Premier League, Dennis Bergkamp revolutionized the role of a second striker during his playing career.
During his time with the Netherlands national team, Bergkamp played a starring role at Euro 1992, scoring three goals as his country reached the semi-finals. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Bergkamp scored one of the best ever World Cup goals in the last minute of the quarter-final against Argentina.
Bergkamp spent the most of his club career at Ajax and Arsenal. It was at Arsenal that he came to be known as one of the most gifted talents in world football. He helped the Gunners win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.
#3 Johan Cruyff, attacking midfielder
One of the most influential players and managers in football history, Johan Cruyff changed the way the game was played and seen with his football tactics and skills. Cruyff won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973, and 1974.
Prior to the rise of Johan Cruyff, the Netherlands had failed to qualify for a World Cup for nearly fifty years, and had never qualified for a European Championship. He led his country to a second place finish at the 1974 FIFA World Cup a year in which he was awarded the Golden Ball, and a third place finish at Euro 1976.
Cruyff made the Netherlands a superpower in world football in the space of one decade. At club level, Cruyff started his career at Ajax, where he won eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups. He was then signed by Barcelona for a world-record transfer fee in 1973.
#2 Robin van Persie, forward
Robin Van Persie ended his career as the all time Netherlands' top goalscorer with 50 goals in 102 appearances for his country. The left-footed striker played a key role for his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup where they reached the quarter-finals, the 2010 World Cup where they finished as runners-up, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup where they reached the semi-finals.
Van Persie spent the majority of his career in the Premier League with Arsenal and Manchester United. Towards the end of his time in England, Van Persie became one of the most lethal strikers in Europe. He won the Premier League Golden Boot twice, and was voted the PFA Player's Player of the Year once in the 2011-12 season.
#1 Marco van Basten, forward
Another member of the famous Dutch team of the 1980s, Marco van Basten was the talisman of a team that contained a number of stars. Regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football, van Basten scored over 300 goals for club and country in a career that was cut short due to injury.
Van Basten scored 28 goals in 54 appearances for the Netherlands. He won UEFA Euro 1988 where he earned the Golden Boot, scoring five goals, which included a volley against the Soviet Union, which is widely considered to be one of the greatest goals in football history.
Van Basten was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1992 and won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1988, 1989 and 1992. He won three Eredivisie titles, the Cup Winners' Cup with Ajax, and four Serie A titles and three European Cups with Milan. He retired at the age of just 30 due to injury.
