The Good, The Bad & The Ugly; Netherlands v Morocco.

Ibrahim Ayyub gives his opinion on what little went right and what plenty went wrong during Netherlands penalty shootout elimination by Morocco.

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Well, the Oranje’s quest for the elusive World Cup continues. Although expectations were low, being eliminated after four matches for the first time since the 2006 World Cup was not expected. Ronald Koeman is gone and the KNVB will have to find someone to lead these players.

Apologies for the delay, but it took some time getting over this loss. I just left Mexico and got home in time to watch the Oranje take on Morocco and be heart broken once again. The economist Joachim Klement had predicted that the Netherlands were going to win the World Cup. Clearly, he never watched the Oranje play under Koeman when he made that prediction. Hope he does better with his day job.

THE GOOD

Not much good to write about after a disappointing frustrating elimination from the World Cup. Crysencio Summerville’s hustle and not giving up by assisting on the opening goal was admirable. Cody Gakpo scoring to give the Oranje the lead, after the tragic news of losing his unborn son, was a positive moment for all. Other than that, the only other good thing was the departure of Ronald Koeman after this result. Hopefully the next manager will do better than Koeman whose record during his second stint was disappointing despite getting to the semifinals of UEFA Euro 2024. Zero wins against top 25 teams during Koeman’s second stint is shambolic.

THE BAD

The mental lapses by the defenders continued to be an issue. The Oranje had the lead and just needed to set up shop and protect the lead. However, they failed to show that they learned from their opener against Japan and conceded late yet again. Captain flatfoot, Virgil van Dijk failed to hop and head the ball and Morocco equalized in stoppage time. As the saying goes, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. Speaking of history, the Oranje now have the distinction of being the first nation to be eliminated in a World Cup Final, Semi-Final, Quarter-Final, Round of 16 and now, the Round of 32.

Along with the stoppage time brain fart, those penalties were bad. I am not a fan of this trend of slow stepping, tap dancing penalty taking approach. Why not enjoy a Stroopwafel with a sip of coffee before you complete the penalty. Just run and blast the ball in, which Ronaldo Koeman was famous for. You would expect him to drill that into his players. Instead, we got to witness that spectacle. Justin Kluivert scored three penalties in one match for his club, but saw his effort strike the post and it was hard not to feel deflated. It was also hard not to be reminded of his father Patrick Kluivert missing his penalty against Italy in Euro 2000.

THE UGLY

Penalty Shootouts are horrible because someone ends up being the villain. Not this time! There were many villains to choose from after this performance. From Koeman and his coaching to Virgil and his brain fart and those three poorly taken penalties. The overall performance was just ugly. Cowardly football tactics from Ronald Koeman where the Oranje surrendered possession to Morocco in an elimination game. They had 30% possession against Morocco. 30%!!! Scotland had 40% of possession against Morocco and the mighty Dutch could not best that. To call this performance shameful is putting it mildly. Koeman had one bright moment in this whole game, which was bringing on Wout Weghorst and to play long balls to him. It worked when it resulted in Gakpo’s goal. Other than that, Koeman lacked any positive ideas to go with that awful back five idea.

Playing for penalties was a bad strategy. Sure, you look like a genius when it works. However, when it doesn’t work, it leads to more second guessing and afterwards, Koeman said he would not have changed a thing if he could do it again. Of course, the fact that the Netherlands have a poor record in shootouts, only winning two of out their ten shootouts, is another reason to second guess Koeman. The Oranje have been eliminated in a World Cup by a penalty shootout in 1998, 2014, 2022 and now, 2026.

The Koeman era is over and now, the KNVB president Frank Paauw and KNVB Technical Director Nigel de Jong will have to choose Koeman’s successor. They need to show ambition and not just settle for who is Dutch and is available. Aim higher. Pep Guardiola is available, so why not approach him? Unfortunately, we will expect them to decide between the available Arne Slot or Erik ten Hag. It’s as predictable as watching the Oranje play the past few years.

Enjoy the rest of the tournament and stay hydrated during these water breaks. Good luck with completing your Panini stickers albums and get ready for the UEFA Nations League and Euro 2028. Hopefully, these competitions will help this nation prepare them to finally end their quest for the World Cup.

Oranje’s Painful Exit and the Road Ahead.

Well, the summer of three international football tournaments is officially over. Football fans were spoiled with Euro 2024, Copa America 2024 and the Paris Olympics taking place this summer. Sadly, our beloved Oranje suffered another painful exit at Euro 2024, and now we look ahead to the 2026 World Cup with questions and concerns.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
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For Dutch football fans, Euro 2024 will be remembered as another heartbreakingly familiar tale. Once again, the hopes and dreams of the Oranje faithful were dashed, echoing the bitter disappointments of tournaments past. While it didn’t quite shatter hearts like 1992, 2000, or 2008, this loss stung like 2004 and 2020 with doubts and lots of second guessing.

Despite occasional flashes of brilliance in Euro 2024, the Oranje overall were disappointing and also lucky. The Oranje made it all the way to the Semi-Finals for the first time since 2004, even though they finished third in their group, because of the luck of the draw that saw them face Romania and Turkey in the knockout stages. Lady luck decided to stay at home when they faced England in the Semi-Finals where Holland’s exit revealed systemic issues that have been plaguing the team for some time under Ronald Koeman.

Ronald Koeman’s tactics and lineup decisions made it easy to second guess the man in charge. Koeman managed to get this team to the semi-finals while displaying some flaws in his tactical setup and his failure to adapt as matches unfolded. Some of Koeman’s late substitutions often lacked impact, which raised questions about his ability to influence games positively.

One of the glaring issues throughout Euro 2024 was Holland’s defensive vulnerability. One would expect a team consisting of the likes Virgil Van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Aké, Denzel Dumfries, and Micky van de Ven to be solid defensively. Just like under Louis van Gaal in the previous World Cup, the Oranje were leaking goals and one has to ask if it was because of lapses in concentration or was it from poor tactical awareness. Looking ahead, the defenders have to be more reliable and composed. One can hope that Matthijs de Ligt, who did not play a single second in this tournament, finds his mojo again and be part of the backline in the future.

The Oranje also had issues with up front. Even though this team boasts talented players in the attack, they often relied too heavily on moments of individual brilliance rather than organized attacking teamwork. The attack was predictable as the team relied on star players like Memphis Depay or Cody Gakpo making magic happen over well-structured offensive patterns. However, with an uncertain midfield, the lack of fluidity up front was no big surprise.

All these issues were on display in the semi-final against England. The Oranje enjoyed a dream start after just seven minutes from a great opening goal from Xavi Simons, courtesy of a moment of individual brilliance. However, lady luck would disappear when England were awarded a penalty eleven minutes later when Dumfries caught Harry Kane on his ankle, courtesy of a VAR review that did not notice a Bukayo Saka handball. Kane converted from the spot and Oranje’s performance dropped when Memphis Depay had to be replaced after suffering an injury.

The next fifty-five minutes were a display of all the shortcomings of this team under Koeman with the Ollie Watkins goals in added time dashing all hopes of another European final since 1988. After the final whistle, the second-guessing began such as why were the Oranje reluctant to attack a tired England team that had just played 120 minutes in consecutive knock out stages games? Why did they fail to play out of the back while an unfit Harry Kane not pressing? Why didn’t Gakpo take on Saka whenever he the opportunity presented itself on numerous occasions? Why didn’t Koeman bring on players like Jeremie Frimpong and van de Ven? All these decisions only left fans questioning Koeman’s selection criteria and game management.

With the World Cup two years away, it is a moment for introspection and strategic rebuilding by the KNVB and Koeman, regarding the issues in defense, tactical approaches, and nurturing the young talents coming through. As the legendary basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Failing To Prepare Is Preparing To Fail.” As the focus shifts to the future, the Oranje must learn from their mistakes, improve their defensive weaknesses, and foster a more organized and balanced approach to matches.

I won’t be a negative Nelly, thus I will end this on a positive note. Amidst the disappointment, there were some positives from Euro 2024. Bart Verbruggen and Xavi Simons emerged as bright spots for the Oranje. Verbruggen’s performances in goal showed promise and perhaps the 21-year-old will be the starting goalkeeper for the future while Simons showcased his potential as one of the faces of a new generation of talent ready to step up. The backline is still full of talented players, who just need to be better coached. Hopefully, Brian Brobbey and Joshua Zirkzee, or another other up and coming player answers the call as the next established goal scorer since Wout Weghorst isn’t getting any younger. Overall, fans have every reason to be optimistic and hope for brighter days ahead.

Oranje World Cup Exit Continues Tradition of What Ifs.

Another World Cup has come to an end, and once again, it ends in disappointment for the Oranje. There is no moral victory when it comes to the World Cup. It’s either win or bust, and for the Oranje, it was another tournament that ended in disappointment and left many wondering with what ifs.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our Football-Oranje followers. On behalf of everyone from Football-Oranje.com, we wish you a joyous holiday season!

The 2022 World Cup came and went, and once again, the Oranje came up empty-handed. There is no moral victory when it comes to the World Cup. It’s either win or bust, and for the Oranje, it was another tournament that ended in disappointment and what-ifs. That has been something that has plagued them after every World Cup exit.

Heads up, boys. 🧡#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/dn0YYkyzat

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 10, 2022

What if the Oranje weren’t distracted by calling their significant others to debunk false German stories about them the night before the 1974 World Cup Final?

What if the Oranje had Johan Cruyff with them for the 1978 World Cup?

What if Johan Cruyff, and not Leo Beenhakker, coached the Oranje at the 1990 World Cup? What if Frank Rijkaard kept his cool against Germany, and Marco van Basten was fit during that summer?

What if Johan Cruyff, and not Dick Advocaat, coached the Oranje at the 1994 World Cup? What if Ruud Gullit decided not to retire from the Oranje right before the World Cup? What if the referee had blown the whistle on the foul that Brazil’s Branco committed on Marc Overmars seconds before he was felled by Wim Jonk, before scoring from the ensuing free kick?

What if the referee had awarded a penalty to the Oranje in the 1998 World Cup Semi-Final against Brazil after Pierre van Hooijdonk had his shirt pulled by Brazil’s Junior Baiano? What if Phillip Cocu was the last penalty taker instead one of the first five in a penalty shootout?

What if Holland versus Portugal during the 2006 World Cup Round of 16 clash didn’t turn into an audition for Cobra Kai?

What if Arjen Robben had chipped the ball over Iker Casillas and Bert van Marwijk opted not to go defensive against Spain in the 2010 World Cup Final?

What if Louis van Gaal didn’t get it wrong against Argentina by setting his team up to defend in the 2014 World Cup Semi-Final against a tired Argentina before falling to them in a penalty shoot-out?

After the 2022 World Cup, what if Louis van Gaal didn’t get it wrong against Argentina yet again with his lineups and approach? Why did he opt to start with Memphis and Steven Bergwijn instead of Wout Weghorst or Luuk de Jong who are 6′ 6″ and 6’2” against the Argentina backline whose tallest player was Cristian Romero (6’1)? It was no surprise that Weghorst scored a header against the 5′ 9″ Lisandro Martinez. Why did he opt to have the team sit back and defend in extra time, when the momentum had completely shifted after Weghorst scored that last gasp equalize? The pressure was always on Argentina, so the Oranje had the upper hand. Yet, the Oranje sat back and defended and were lucky not to concede during those extra thirty minutes.

When the referee blew the final whistle, I dreaded the upcoming penalty shootout. A brief word about the referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz. I have never been a fan of his and look forward to the day he hangs up his whistle for good. He is more interested in being the center of attention and will ignore the most obvious bookable offenses. However, he shows no hesitation to book you if you dare to open your mouth and say something he will not like. The fact he didn’t send off Leandro Paredes after his reckless challenge and for subsequently blasting the ball at the Dutch bench is not surprising. Yet, all that time he spent trying to defuse tension, resulted in ten minutes of stoppage time that helped the Oranje grab the equalizer.

If van Gaal was planning for penalties, then why didn’t he call up Jasper Cillessen? Surely, if you’re going to face Argentina in the World Cup, then why not call up someone who trained with Messi for years? It’s well known that Cillessen isn’t great at stopping penalties, but wouldn’t you prefer he be the one giving Andries Noppert advice on facing Messi instead of Frenkie de Jong? Speaking of penalties, seeing Virgil van Dijk step up and take the first penalty was admirable. Leaders lead by example but seeing him step up to take a penalty brought back bad memories of Frank de Boer, Jaap Stam, and Paul Bosvelt taking penalties for the Oranje. I prefer not to see defenders take penalties for the Oranje unless their name is Ronald Koeman.

Speaking of Ronald Koeman, he returns to the bench that he vacated a few years ago. Hopefully, the transition from van Gaal to Koeman is a smooth one. We are already had to go through with what if Dennis Bergkamp hadn’t retired and Louis van Gaal didn’t get it wrong during the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers? Also, what if the KNVB didn’t try to go back in time with the hiring of Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat during the disastrous 2018 World Cup Qualifiers? Here’s hoping the Oranje will qualify for the 2026 World Cup and maybe, just maybe, we won’t be left asking what if anymore.

Happy Holidays, fans! 🎄🎅🧡#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/h7bZds4jm8

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) December 24, 2022

Oranje kick off World Cup campaign in typical fashion.

The Oranje kicked off their 2022 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Senegal courtesy of second half goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen. It was a performance that could be construed as underwhelming, but that’s usually what we have come to expect from the Flying Dutchmen.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
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The Oranje are part of the World Cup again after failing to qualify back in 2018. They kicked off their 2022 World Cup campaign with a 2-0 victory over Senegal in what could be considered an underwhelming performance. However, that’s how the Oranje, usually kick off their World Cup campaigns.

The first group match for some World Cup teams are usually a cagey affair for multiple reasons such as nerves or caution. Not all teams come flying out of the gate at the World Cup, and the Dutch are no exception. Sure, many remember the Oranje kicking off World Cup 2014 with a great 5-1 victory over Spain. Yet, those types of results are not typical for the Oranje dating back to World Cup 1990.

For longtime fans such as myself, watching the Oranje in their first World Cup group matches has not been exactly enjoyable, with some being underwhelming, disappointing, and excruciating. Who could have thought the 1990 squad consisting of the legends Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard ad Ronaldo Koeman, who had just won Euro 88 two years prior, would play to a 1-1 draw with Egypt? Wim Kieft scored around the hour mark, but Egypt equalized from the spot in the final minutes of the match. Four years later, the Oranje managed a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Saudi Arabia thanks to goals from Wim Jonk and Gaston Taument. The 1998 clash against Belgium ended in a dire scoreless draw that I prefer to never relive again.

In 2006, Holland defeated Serbia and Montenegro 1-0 with an early first-half goal from Arjen Robben. In 2010, they defeated Denmark 2-0 with two second-half goals courtesy of a Daniel Agger own goal, and Dirk Kuyt scoring the insurance goal in the final five minutes. The most memorable opening match victory was the 5-1 demolition of World Cup champions, Spain in World Cup 2018. After Xabi Alonso converted from the spot, the Oranje scored five unanswered goals from Stefan de Vrij and Robben and Robin van Persie both scoring a brace.

As you can see, the opening match for the Oranje is not an indicator of things to come. They have qualified for the knockout stages every time they have been in the World Cup since 1990 and have failed to advance from the Round of 16 only twice. It was important for the Oranje to win their opening match; just ask Argentina and Germany if they wouldn’t like to swap places with Holland right now. One can only hope that this team will follow in the footsteps of prior teams who improved with each game and ended up going far in the World Cup.

Bring on number two! ⚔️🇪🇨#NothingLikeOranje #WorldCup #NEDECU pic.twitter.com/RA7z39u7eD

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 25, 2022

El Clasico Watch Party Special Guest – Barça Legend Patrick Kluivert.

 

This weekend’s El Clasico will be a special one for the Miami Blaugrana Penya. Courtesy of ESPN+, former Blaugrana star Patrick Kluivert will be making an appearance at 77 Sportbar where fans can meet and have their photos taken with the Dutch and Barça legend and with the Spanish league trophy and the official Spanish league ball.

Patrick Kluivert was in Amsterdam Holland where he was an Ajax Amsterdam youth graduate. Kluivert made worldwide headlines when, at the age of 18, he scored the game winner for Ajax in 1995 UEFA Champions League Final against AC Milan. To this day, he is still the youngest goal scorer in Champions League Finals history.

Kluivert joined Milan in 1997 and a year later, he joined FC Barcelona where he would go on to play for the Blaugrana for six seasons. He helped Barça win the league title in 1998 and overall, he would go on to score 122 goals in all competitions for the Blaugrana.

At the time when he joined Barça, Kluivert was a feared striker who also excelled for the Dutch national team who reached the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 tournaments. He was joint top scorer at Euro 2000 with five goals.

Unfortunately, Kluivert’s time with the club coincided during a horrible time for the club, where success was scarce. Nonetheless, he was also there to usher in the new era of success for Barça. Kluivert was one of the veterans of the 2003-2004, alongside Luis Enrique, Phillip Cocu, and Marc Overmars and the new signings of Ronaldinho, Rafa Marquez and Giovanni van Bronckhorst while the likes of Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta and Víctor Valdés got to blossom and combined helped kickstart an era of success that would soon follow.

Barça had a nightmare start to their 2003-2004 season that saw them lose 1-2 to Real Madrid at the Camp Nou in a league match for the first time in 29 years. Kluivert scored Barça’s lone goal that night. Barça were struggling and were nowhere near the top four in La Liga. However, the wind of changes commenced on January 25, 2004 when Barça defeated Sevilla away 1-0 with Kluivert being the goal scoring hero after scoring a remarkable header goal. The team would go on a 9-game winning streak and ultimately enjoy a 17-game unbeaten league streak during the second half of the season. That streak also featured Barça’s come from behind 2-1 win against Real Madrid in the Spanish capital with Kluivert scoring the equalizer header goal before the current Barça manager, Xavi, scored the game winner.

Barça would come up just short and finish second that season and Kluivert would leave the club and join Newcastle United. However, for those who watched Kluivert play for Barça, we got to see a spectacular speedy striker who was dangerous in the air and with his feet and also was a superb playmaker who assisted the likes of Rivaldo and Luis Enrique. My all-time favorite Barça performance from Patrick Kluivert was in the Blaugrana’s 5-1 extra-time victory over Chelsea in the 1999-2000 Champions League second leg of the Quarterfinals where he struck the woodwork twice, had a goal disallowed after he was fouled inside the box and the referee decided to award a penalty instead, before scoring the club’s fifth goal from another memorable header.

After retiring from the game, Kluivert has coached and was the club’s academy director for the last couple of years. He also features for the Barcelona Legends team. Miami Blaugrana Penya is honored that Patrick Kluivert will be making an appearance at 77 Sportbar where fans can meet and have their photos taken with the Dutch and Barça legend and with the Spanish league trophy and the official Spanish league ball.

KNVB Continues Myopic Approach With Van Gaal Pursuit.

 Once again, KNVB had to find a new man to be in charge of the Oranje after Frank de Boer resigned from his post after Euro 2020. Fans wanted the likes of Erik ten Hag and Peter Bosz to be considered but instead, they got the recycled names of Dick Advocaat, Louis van Gaal and even the retired Frank Rijkaard. Well, the KNVB didn’t surprise anyone when rumors came out that they plan on hiring van Gaal for the third time. If true, this means that the KNVB continues their myopic approach of not looking at the big picture and just focusing on the now.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
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Before we get to the van Gaal hiring, let me do a quick reflection on the Oranje and their disappointing exit from Euro 2020.

I blame Georginio Wijnaldum for being invisible in that loss to the Czech Republic.
I blame Memphis Depay for being so sloppy with his ball control and his passing.
I blame Donyell Malen for missing that golden chance that would have been the opening goal.
I blame Matthijs de Ligt for that boneheaded hand ball play that cost his team dearly.
I blame Frank de Boer for the lineup and clueless substitutions against the Czech Republic.
I blame Jordan Pickford for injuring Virgil van Dijk and costing the Oranje their valuable leader.
I blame the KNVB for hiring Frank de Boer.

I blame Ronald Koeman who left the Oranje to coach Barça. Based on Barça’s disarray, he could have still had a chance to coach the Blaugrana after Euro 2020.

Back on topic, the brief era of Frank de Boer is over and it should never be discussed again. For the third time, van Gaal is allegedly back in charge. Obviously, this hiring was made with the World Cup in mind since it’s around the corner and the Oranje made it all the way to the Semi-Finals in 2014 under van Gaal. However, why do the KNVB continue to recycle previous managers for short term goals and continue to face this situation over and over again?

The Oranje job is a job of short tenure. Four years is the usual life span of a Dutch manager. One has to go back to Bob Glendenning who coached the Oranje for fifteen years, which took place before the second World War. Since then, if one manager made it to four years, he was doing something right. But why is it that the Oranje can’t hang on to their managers? For comparison’s sake. Bobby Robson coached England for eight years. Richard Nielsen coached the Danes for six years and Morten Olsen coached them for 15 years. Joachim Löw just finished a 15-year stint coaching the Germans, although he should have been fired after World Cup 2018. Meanwhile, Óscar Tabarez is still coaching Uruguay and he’s been in charge since 2006. So why can’t the Oranje find their Óscar Tabarez?

I always wondered why the legend, Rinus “The General” Michels did not stay in charge from 1986 until 1994 and then step down for Guus Hiddink. Michels just guided the Oranje to Euro 88 success and then stepped down to manage Bayer Leverkusen, where he didn’t even last a season. Did Michels do it for financial reasons or did he miss coaching at the club level again? Nevertheless, Michels was back coaching the Oranje at Euro 92 before stepping down for the final time. Imagine though if he had remained in charge from 1986 until 1994, especially during the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

It’s no secret that coaching the national team is not in the interest of a young manager. Young managers want to coach at the club level and deem the national team job as something to do towards the end of their coaching career. So, don’t expect the likes of Erik ten Hag and Peter Bosz to take over the Oranje when they are still employed and sought after by clubs, which involves a day to day operation, unlike the national team where the games are scarce and not much happens in between except traveling to fixtures to scout players. It also doesn’t help that it’s never easy managing Dutch players since they tend to be very opinionated, and, as we saw in Euro 96 and Euro 2012, their egos can be divisive to the detriment of the team.

The KNVB’s biggest dilemma is that they lack a long-term vision. There is no structure and it doesn’t help that managers either resign or get fired. Things have to change or else we will continue to witness the ineptness continue to prevail as it has over the years. After World Cup 2022, the Oranje need to find their Oscar Tabarez and allow him to remain in charge for many years. Furthermore, the revamp should also consist of making sure the youth teams also follow the style of the first team. The system and formation should be the same from top to the bottom in the Netherlands setup which would allow the youth players to transition to the first team without any confusion or adjustments.

Yet, in order to achieve this plan, the Oranje need to find someone who is willing to stay in charge for at least eight years. Is Ronald Koeman the one when, and not if, Barcelona fire him? Or perhaps is it time to hire a foreign manager for the first time since the Austrian Ernst Happel coached the Oranje at World Cup 1978? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, and yet, the Oranje have continued to show us just how true that is with their constant coaching musical chairs over the years. Enough is enough and it’s time for KNVB to stop being myopic and use some insight to plan ahead.

So far so good for the Oranje.

 The Oranje were expected by some to crash and burn in this Euro 2020. Three group stage matches later, the Oranje were still alive. Not only are they alive, but as group winners, they got a favorable draw in the knockout stages. So far, so good for the Oranje and perhaps the best is yet to come. 

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For many, Euro 2020 now begins as we prepare to enjoy the knockout stages. The Oranje are one of the final 16 teams and their path to the Final begins with a clash against the Czech Republic. The last time these two sides faced each other in the European Championships delivered an unforgettable and painful game in 2004. Frank de Boer was an unused substitute for that game and now, he will be on the touchline as the Oranje try to make amends for that bitter loss in 2004. Frank has been everyone’s favourite whipping boy, both in the Dutch media and the international media. Nevertheless, the Oranje won their group with three wins and were also entertaining, so Frank deserves some credit. 

Of course, some opted to hold off from praising Frank, claiming the Oranje were lucky to be in an easy group and haven’t faced anyone strong yet. Well, it’s not as if he picked the group teams personally. You can only beat what’s in front of you, and his team has just done that. Frank also has done a good enough job of not messing things up, such as starting Luuk De Jong ahead of Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen, and the team has chemistry on the pitch with Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay shining in the tournament. More importantly, the players seem to be on the same page inside the locker room, unlike what we witnessed during Euro 96 and Euro 2012 where internal issues divided the team and affected their performances.

The real test now begins. We’ve seen the Oranje do well in the group but disappoint in the knockout stages in previous European Championships. So far, so good by the Oranje and we can only hope they keep on doing well and show us that the best is yet to come.

In Frank We Trust?

The Frank de Boer era is underway. Ronald Koeman’s departure befuddled many and the choices to replace the now Barcelona boss were even more befuddling. Ultimately, the KNVB opted for Frank de Boer much to the chagrin of many. Was the hiring of de Boer the best option going forward?

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Frankly speaking, KNVB had their work cut out for them when Koeman suddenly resigned to become FC Barcelona’s manager. Dwight Lodeweges stepped in as the caretaker till the KNVB found someone on a permanent basis and the less said about how the Oranje played in those friendlies, the better. Their coaching search though left much to be desired when Frank Rijkaard’s name came out of nowhere as if we weren’t living in the Twilight Zone already. Surely, they can do better than Rijkaard who last managed in 2013. I am just glad we didn’t get a third go with either Dick Advocaat or Louis van Gaal as Oranje managers, especially the latter who went pragmatic in World Cup 2014 knock out stages and squandered a good chance at reaching the Final.

To be frank, de Boer’s availability made it an easy choice for the KNVB. It wasn’t the best option, but it was a safe option. There were no other options unless we want to give others a try as caretakers. Imagine Co Adriaanse being in charge for a couple of games. Marco van Basten can do it for a couple of games if he wants. But seriously, de Boer had success with Ajax and is familiar with some of the current Oranje players (Joël Veltman, Daley Blind Jasper Cillessen, and Ryan Babel). Just hope he doesn’t call up and try to shoehorn Davy Klaassen into the starting eleven with Kevin Strootman.  

Today’s dull 1-0 loss to Mexico was disappointing but it was a friendly to give some players their debut while Matthijs de Ligt is recovering from an injury and Luuk and Frenkie de Jong were on the bench. Premature to think of doom and gloom after one game and let’s wait till he has all the players at his full disposal. However, the Oranje hotseat could be warm for Ronald Koeman when he’s most likely to be out of a job in Barcelona before Euro 2020 kicks off. That’s when we will know if the KNVB truly trust Frank.

Where are they now? Netherlands triumphant Euro 88 squad.

We love to romanticize the past and it doesn’t get any better than the summer of 1988 when the Oranje finally ended the Netherlands ’ long wait for glory at the international stage. 32 years ago, the Oranje tasted success after defeating the Soviet Union in the Euro 88 Final. We look back at the starting eleven of the Euro 88 Final and see where are they now.

The General, Rinus Michels, was back as the Netherlands manager. At his disposal was a collection of superb players such as Milan’s Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit, Real Zaragoza’s Frank Rijkaard, and PSV Eindhoven’s Hans van Breukelen, Ronald Koeman, Berry van Aerle and Gerald Vanenburg who had just won the European Cup a few weeks before Euro 88 kicked off along with Ajax players such as Jan Wouters, John van ‘t Schip and Arnold Mühren. Without further ado, we look back at the starting eleven of the Euro 88 Finals Oranje side.

Hans van Breukelen

Berry van Aerle – Frank Rijkaard – Ronald Koeman – Adri van Tiggelen

Gerald Vanenburg – Jan Wouters – Arnold Mühren – Erwin Koeman

Ruud Gullit  – Marco van Basten

Hans van Breukelen – GK

Hans van Breukelen was the imposing goalkeeper for the Oranje during the 80s. He made his debut in 1980 while with FC Utrecht. He had just won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven before joining up the Oranje for Euro 88 where he pulled off a memorable penalty save in the final to keep it 2-0. He would continue to represent the national team until after Euro 92 before retiring from football in 1994 after a stint with Nottingham Forest. He later became a technical director at Utrecht and was a  motivational speaker. In June 2016, van Breukelen was appointed technical director of the Dutch FA before he returned to PSV in July 2019 as one of their Board of Directors.

Berry van Aerle – RB – @BVanaerle

Right-back Berry van Aerle made his debut for the Oranje in 1987 while with PSV. He was also another PSV player who had won the European Cup prior to Euro 88. He would go on Was on the national team for Euro 92 (on the bench during the Denmark game) and his final Oranje appearance was against Poland in October 1992 for WC 94 QWF. He retired from football in 1995 after leaving PSV for Helmond Sport before retiring from the game. He is currently a scout for PSV and was also recently involved in a campaign sponsored by Philips, visiting elderly homes and standing outside their windows with the European Cup.

Frank Rijkaard – CB –

Frank Rijkaard lined up in the heart of the defense for the Oranje during Euro 88. He made his debut in 1981 while with Ajax Amsterdam. However, he was on loan with Real Zaragoza after a falling out with Ajax manager Johan Cruyff. Rijkaard would then move to Milan to join his Oranje teammates, Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit before retiring from the Oranje after World Cup 1994. He returned to Ajax and helped them win the 1995 Champions League with the Final being his last match. He managed the Oranje for Euro 2000 and managed Barça to two league titles and the Champions League in 2006. He had coaching stints with Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia later on. He was hired by the Florida prep school, Montverde Academy, as their advisor of player development but in December 2016, Rijkaard announced he would no longer pursue a position as manager. On March 5, 2020, Rijkaard and Gullit opened their own Cruyff Court in Amsterdam

Ronald Koeman – CB – @RonaldKoeman

Ronaldo Koeman was the dynamic defender who was a terror to opposing goalkeepers thanks to his powerful long-range strikes. Koeman made his debut in 1983 while with Groningen. He was also one of the PSV stars who just hoisted the European Cup and would win it again with Cruyff’s Barça. Koeman retired from the Oranje after World Cup 1994 and retired in 1997 with Feyenoord. He went on to manage Vitesse, Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, Feyenoord, Southampton, and Everton. He is currently the Oranje manager and was recently hospitalized with heart problems.

Adri van Tiggelen – LB – @adri34246926

Adri van Tiggelenwas the other Oranje fullback for the Euro 88 Oranje team while with Anderlecht. He made his debut in 1983 while with Groningen and retired from the Oranje in 1994as a PSV player. He retired from football in 1995 after leaving PSV for Dordrecht’90 for one season before retiring from the game. He had stints with Sparta Rotterdam as an assistant and interim manager and also managed VV Zuidland in the lower Dutch leagues. He returned to Sparta Rotterdam as a scout back in April 2018 and has an account on twitter which he hasn’t used since 2013.

Gerald Vanenburg – RM –

Gerald Vanenburg operated on the right side of the Oranje midfield during Euro 88. Gerald made his debut for the Oranje in 1982 while with Ajax and his final Oranje appearance was against Poland in October 1992 in a 1994 World Cup qualifier. He would go on to have spells with PSV, Júbilo Iwata, Utrecht, Cannes before retiring in 2000 with 1860 Munich. He quickly took up coaching as an assistant manager and manager with 1860 Munich, PSV U-19 team, Helmond Sport and FC Eindhoven. His final coaching job was that of assistant manager of Willem II Tilburg until June 2009 and since then, he has been out of the spotlight with the occasional interview.

Jan Wouters – CM –

Jan Wouters one of the two central midfielders for the Oranje who made his debut in 1982 while with Utrecht.  He retired from the Oranje after the 1994 World Cup. He would go on to play for Ajax, Bayern Munich before retiring with PSV in 1996. He wasted no time getting into coaching soon afterward with stints as an assistant, caretaker, and manager with Utrecht, Ajax, Rangers, PSV, and Kasımpaşa. He was an assistant coach at Feyenoord until 2018.

Arnold Mühren – CM –

Arnold Mühren was Wouters’ partner in the central midfield of the Oranje. He made his debut for the Oranje in 1978 while with Ipswich Town and retired from the Oranje after Euro 88, with his cross to Marco van Basten being his final assist for the Dutch; what a proper way to end your national team career. Arnold played for Volendam, Ajax, Twente, Ipswich Town, Manchester United before retiring from the game in 1989 with Ajax. Unlike his other teammates, Arnold did not venture into coaching but still is available for the occasional media appearances with interviews here and there.

Erwin Koeman – LM –

Erwin Koeman, the brother of Ronald Koeman, was in charge of the left midfield of the 1988 Oranje side and made his Oranje debut in 1983 while with Groningen and his final Oranje appearance was in January 1994. He would go on to play for PSV and Mechelen before retiring in 1998 with Groningen. He too would follow in his brother’s footsteps and get into coaching with stints, at both club level and international level, with RKC Waalwijk, Feyenoord, Hungary, Utrecht, Eindhoven, RKC Waalwijk, and Fenerbahçe. He was fired as Oman’s national team manager back in December 2019 and he and his brother along with other Oranje players were part of the campaign to support their former club Groningen by buying season tickets to offset club financial losses suffered during the pandemic.

Ruud Gullit  – CF – @GullitR

The Captain of Oranje during Euro 88, Ruud Gullit played upfront with Marco van Basten and scored the opening goal in the first half of the Final, courtesy of a van Basten cross. Ruud made his debut in 1981 while with HFC Haarlem and his final Oranje appearance came right before he abruptly retired prior to World Cup 1994 after falling out with manager Dick Advocaat. His magnificent career saw him also play for Feyenoord, PSV, AC Milan, Sampdoria, and Chelsea where his final days as a player was as a player-manager with Chelsea before he was sacked in 1998. He went on to manage Newcastle, Feyenoord, LA Galaxy, Terek Grozny and oddly enough, he was an assistant coach of the Oranje when Dick Advocaat was in charge back in May 2017 until Ronald Koeman was hired as the new Oranje manager in February 2018 and Gullit wasn’t retained. Nevertheless, Gullit has established himself as a pundit for BBC, Sky, ESPN, and other TV networks and as stated earlier, he and Frank Rijkaard opened their own Cruyff Court in Amsterdam on March 5, 2020.

Marco van Basten – CF –

Marco van Basten, the final member of the starting eleven of the magnificent Oranje eleven, and Ruud Gullit’s partner up front who scored the second goal in the Final that many consider one of the greatest, goals of all-time. The “Swan Of Utrecht” made his Oranje debut in 1982 with Ajax and retired from the Oranje after Euro 1992. Van Basten’s legendary career saw him shine with Milan while winning the Ballon d’Or three times. However, injuries took their toll on Marco as he stopped playing football at the age of 29.  Marco would also go into management by starting off with Jong Ajax, and then Ajax before taking the Oranje to World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008. He would then go on to manage Heerenveen, AZ before stepping down to become an assistant coach because of stress issues. He would return to the Oranje as an assistant coach under Danny Blind. In August 2016, Marco became a technical director for FIFA and works for Fox Sports as an analyst.

Despite the Loss to France, Optimism has returned for the Oranje.

Although Holland’s loss to France on Monday was disappointing, the reaction following the final whistle was different from before. For once, there was a sense of optimism that the Oranje were finally back on the right path. For once, there is hope.

• By Ibrahim Ayyub
• Follow Ibrahim on Twitter

It’s never an easy task when facing the reigning World Cup champion, especially when it’s on their homecoming night as they celebrated their recent World Cup triumph in front of their fans. Nonetheless, that was the daunting task awaiting the Oranje when they faced France on Monday night. However,  the young team hung with the World Cup Champions for most of the game before falling to them 2-1.

These last eight years, we witnessed the Oranje play without a purpose and, some would say, without passion. They resembled zombies on the pitch as they failed to qualify for both Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018. The quality on the pitch was not what it once was and the coaching seemed uninspired. The Oranje played without a solid defence while the attack seemed predictable and bland.

We are witnessing a new era unfold before our eyes. The old guard is truly gone now that Robben and Sneijder have bid farewell to representing the Oranje. Cillessen seems more confident than ever with a defence led by captain Virgil van Dijk who may found his perfect partner in crime, the young Matthijs de Ligt. Hopefully, it was rare off night for Tete at right back and we will see better performances from him in the future. The midfield with Georginio Wijnaldum and the young phenom Frenkie de Jong showed us flashes of what this team is capable of doing, and Memphis Depay leading the charge.

Sure, there are still some pieces missing to complete the puzzle, especially up front and with the left back position. Yet, the likes of those above-mentioned players along with Nathan Aké, Donny van de Beek, Justin Kluivert and Luuk de Jong means that for the first time, that the future is bright and that we are no longer staring into the abyss. Perhaps, Ronaldo Koeman is the Obi-Wan Kenobi to these players where he can provide hope for a better future.

It will take time, and Koeman still needs to work on the team’s first-half struggles. Nonetheless, this is a project that will require patience. It’s time to plan for the future and not focus on short-term success that set the Oranje back. Right now, the future is looking good… for the first time in a long time.

The Other Mexican World Cup Curse.

Much has been made about Mexico’s Round of 16 Curse following their loss to Brazil in their Round of 16 clash during this World Cup.  However, many are not aware of another Mexico World Cup curse which has already claimed its victim.

Mexico has failed to advance to the “Octavos”, the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup in consecutive World Cups dating to 1994. Mexico has only reached the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup twice, in 1970 and in 1986 which was when Mexico were the hosts. This curse has spanned over three decades now. However, it appears many are not aware of another curse attached to Mexico and the World Cup. Every single team that has knocked out Mexico in the Round of 16 since World Cup 1994 has never gone on to lift the World Cup trophy.  

In 1994, Bulgaria eliminated Mexico in the Round of 16 stage and fell to Italy in the Semi-Finals. In 1998, Germany scored two unanswered goals to defeat Mexico 2-1 in their Round of 16 clash, only to fall to Croatia in the next round. In 2002, USA defeated Mexico 2-0 in the Round of 16 and then fell to Germany in the next round.  In 2006, Argentina defeated Mexico 2-1 in a thrilling Round of 16 encounter and then Argentina fell to Germany in the next round. In 2010, Argentina once again defeated Mexico 3-1 in their Round of 16 clash and then also fell to Germany in the next round. In 2014, Holland defeated Mexico 2-1 in the Round of 16 stage in dubious fashion before the Dutch fell to Argentina in the Semi-Finals.

Well, Brazil defeated Mexico 2-0 in this year’s Round of 16 clash and then bid farewell after their 2-1 defeat to Belgium yesterday in the Quarter-Finals. The curse of eliminating Mexico at this stage continues and this curse also applies to those who have eliminated Mexico in the Quarter-Finals too. In 1970, Mexico were defeated by Italy 4-1 and then lost to the great Brazil by the same score in the Final. In 1986, Mexico played West Germany to a scoreless draw before succumbing to their opponents in the a penalty shootout, and the West Germans fell to Argentina in the Final.

Perhaps countries may want to practice some black magic to avoid meeting Mexico in future World Cup knockout stages. The same holds true for teams grouped with Mexico at the group stage. Mexico have qualified for the World Cup sixteen times. Only two nations have won the World Cup after facing Mexico at the Group Stage; Brazil in 1962 and England in 1966. Sweden's elimination today just confirms the consequences of facing Mexico during the World Cup. Ultimately, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t when it comes to facing Mexico in the World Cup.

The World Cup Curse of Mexico:

1970: Mexico eliminated by Italy in Quarterfinals – Italy lost to Brazil in the Final.

1986: Mexico eliminated by West Germany in Quarterfinals – West Germany lost to Argentina in the Final.

1994: Mexico eliminated by Bulgaria in Round of 16 – Bulgaria lost to Italy in the Semi-Finals.

1998: Mexico eliminated by Germany in Round of 16 – Germany lost to Croatia in the Quarter-Finals.

2002: Mexico eliminated by USA in Round of 16 – USA lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals.

2006: Mexico eliminated by Argentina in Round of 16 – Argentina lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals.

2010: Mexico eliminated by Argentina in Round of 16 – Argentina lost to Germany in the Quarter-Finals.

2014: Mexico eliminated by Holland in Round of 16 – Holland lost to Argentina in Semi-Finals

2018: Mexico eliminated by Brazil in Round of 16 – Brazil lost to Belgium in Quarter-Finals.

Mexico’s World Cup Groups

1930: Mexico  Argentina Chile France.

1950: Mexico Brazil Yugoslavia Switzerland.

1954: Mexico Brazil Yugoslavia Switzerland.

1958: Mexico Sweden Wales Hungary.

1962: Mexico, Brazil* Spain Czechoslovakia.

1966: Mexico England* Uruguay France.

1970: Mexico USSR Belgium El Salvador.

1978: Mexico West Germany Poland Tunisia.

1986: Mexico Belgium Iraq Paraguay.

1994: Mexico Italy Ireland Norway.

1998: Mexico Holland Belgium South Korea.

2002: Mexico Italy Croatia Ecuador.

2006: Mexico Portugal Iran Angola.

2010: Mexico Uruguay France South Africa.

2014: Mexico Brazil Croatia Cameroon.

2018: Mexico German Sweden South Korea.