Netherlands
The best side never to win it.
- FIFA ranking
- 8th
- Federation founded
- 1889
- Home
- Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
- Head coach
- Ronald Koeman
- Nickname
- Oranje
About Netherlands
The Netherlands are football's great romantics, the country that gave the game Total Football under Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff yet has never won the World Cup. Three times they reached the final, in 1974, 1978 and 2010, and three times they lost, a record of near-misses no other nation matches. Their one senior trophy, Euro 1988, is remembered for Marco van Basten's volley as much as the release it brought.
Founded in 1889, the KNVB has kept the Oranje near the top for decades, from van Basten and Bergkamp to a spine of Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and record scorer Memphis Depay, who passed Robin van Persie's mark in 2025. Ronald Koeman, a scorer in the 1988 win, returned as coach to chase the title that has always eluded them.
Honours
- 1UEFA European Championship1988, beating the USSR 2–0
- 0FIFA World Cuprunners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010
Recent form
Under Ronald Koeman, a Euro 2024 semi-finalist run and a 2026 World Cup campaign, built on Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and record scorer Memphis Depay. The chase for a first world title continues.
Records
First-choice XI
4-3-3A recent-era XI from the Euro 2024 side.
Netherlands on Touchline
All gamesNo Netherlands matches are modelled right now. When a big one lands, it appears here with the full brief, the model you can run yourself, and live odds.
How it worksFrequently asked
Reference facts (honours, records, venue) are sourced above. Squad and manager details reflect the season this page covers and can change.
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