Think of the Netherlands and legends like Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Edgar Davids will probably come to mind. Perhaps memories of Total Football and the vivid orange that adorns their fans and national shirt as well.

Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Danny Blind shortly after the defeat to Bulgaria (Getty)


But right now Dutch football is all about crisis.
Last night manager Danny Blind was sacked amid the very real prospect that the Netherlands will fail to qualify for a second tournament in a row.
So what’s gone wrong?

Qualification nightmare

The sacking of Blind followed a 2-0 defeat away to Bulgaria on Saturday night that left the Netherlands fourth in Group A at the halfway stage in qualification for the 2018 World Cup. A place at next summer’s tournament in Russia is looking unlikely for Holland considering how tough a group they find themselves in. France currently lead the way, followed by Sweden, Bulgaria and then the Dutch. The group is completed by Belarus and Luxembourg.


Blind was placed in charge midway through qualification for Euro 2016 after the resignation of Guus Hiddink. The side were third in their group at the time, behind Iceland and the Czech Republic. The father of Manchester United’s Daley Blind was unable to turn things around, but the Dutch FA allowed him to continue in the role until the axe fell last night.

The real problem

It would be easy to lay the blame for Holland’s current problems at Hiddink and Blind’s door – after all this was a team that reached the semi-finals of a World Cup less than three years ago. While both were uninspiring appointments, that would ignore the longer-term problems with the Dutch set-up.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Hiddink stepped down after less than a year in charge amid criticism of him and his team (Getty)
A defensive frailty has dogged the team for years but the biggest problem is that the superstars are ageing and there is no one currently to replace them.
At the World Cup in Brazil few expected the Netherlands to make much of an impression but it proved to be one last hurrah for a few of their stars. Robin van Persie excelled at the tournament, Dirk Kuyt showed the energy that endeared him to Liverpool fans, Nigel de Jong continued to battle, Wesley Sneijder still retained the creativity of a Dutch master and Arjen Robben was lethal.
Except for the latter, none of those players – who all featured in the semi-final defeat to Argentina in 2014 – featured in the 2-0 loss to Bulgaria. Their current ages respectively are 33, 36, 32, 32 and 33. Their careers are perhaps not totally over, but certainly fading, mostly in the Turkish league.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
The Netherlands were beaten by Argentina on penalties at the World Cup (Getty)
There is a complete lack of the sort of big personalities that have characterised the Dutch national team coming through to replace them (unless you mistake Memphis Depay wearing big hats as personality).

Netherlands starting XI v Bulgaria


Zoet; Martins Indi, Blind, de Ligt, Karsdorp; Robben, Klaassem, Wijnaldum, Strootman, Promes; Dost
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?

Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Jeremain Lens, Wesley Sneijder and Memphis Depay on the bench for the match with Bulgaria (Getty)

They will rise again

The short and medium term for Holland looks bleak, but the country is famed for producing incredibly talented players and there are signs that a new batch could emerge.
Manchester United’s 19-year-old Timothy Fosu-Mensah is highly regarded – but will need to be given a chance by Jose Mourinho if he is to flourish. Ajax, PSV, and AZ Alkmaar are littered with exciting prospects. Donny van de Beek, Abdelhak Nouri, Steven Bergwijn, Kenneth Paal and Anwar El Ghazi are just a few worth keeping an eye on.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Timothy Fosu-Mensah is trying to break in to the side at Manchester United (Getty)
Meanwhile 17-year-old centre-back Matthijs De Ligt was given his debut in the defeat to Bulgaria. He endured a nightmare game, but in the long-term he’s being tipped to become one of the very best defenders in the world.

Holland's future?


Timothy Fosu-Mensah: Has made 17 appearances for Manchester United.
Donny van de Beek: Ajax central midfielder made five Europa League appearances this season.
Abdelhak Nouri: Made his Ajax debut in October.
Steven Bergwijn: The 19-year-old PSV forward can play anywhere across the frontline and has scored twice in the Eridivise this season.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Steven Bergwijn in action for PSV (Getty)
Kenneth Paal: Currently playing in Belgium.
Anwar El Ghazi: The 21-year-old has scored at the Nou Camp and has two international caps.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Anwar El Ghazi in action for Ajax against Barcelona. He recently joined Lille (Getty)
Matthijs De Ligt: Made debut in defeat to Bulgaria to become youngest Netherlands player since 1931.


After the awesome side of the 70s that reached two World Cup finals, things went awry. They failed to qualify for three tournaments in a row, the 1982 and 1986 World Cups and the 1984 European Championships. When they returned to the big stage at Euro 1988 they won the tournament. That victory, their one and only tournament triumph, acts as a reminder that things can get better.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Ruud Gullit lifts the European Championships trophy in 1988 (Getty)

But what about now?

There are reports that the Dutch FA will turn to Louis van Gaal, the former Manchester United manager who was in charge of the team during the 2014 World Cup.
He masterminded their path to a third-place finish in Brazil with a stunning victory over then-World Cup holders Spain along the way. Just the thought of Van Persie’s diving header in that match makes it understandable why the Dutch FA would consider LvG an option.
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Van Gaal is out of work following his dismissal by Manchester United (Getty)
Where’s it all gone wrong for the Netherlands national team?
Van Persie scored an incredible goal against Spain (Getty)