UEFA Euro Team Watch – Netherlands

Netherlands, the runner-ups of 2010 World Cup, are one of the favorites to win the tournament. The Dutchmen are eyeing for a major championship and this seems perfect time for them. They are again in the "group of death" following the Euro 2008. Lets see if they can overcome the World Cup final defeat.

Group B opponents - Denmark, Germany, Portugal

Past Records in Euro

Netherlands were the champions of Euro ’88. They defeated the toughest team of that time, West Germany, to reach the final where they beat USSR to win the championship, which included a goal from Marco Van Basten.

Euro ’92 is considered to be the tournament for the emergence of Dennis Bergkamp. Netherlands reached the semis but were defeated by Denmark later.

At Euro ’96 Netherlands reached the quarter-finals with a close game against England. They lost the game 4-2, after being 4-0 down, to reach the quarter-final on goal difference. They then played France in the quarter-finals, drawing 0-0 and being eliminated 5-4 on penalties.

Netherlands co-hosted Euro 2000 with Belgium and were one of the favorites coming into the tournament. They cruised into the quarter-finals with all three wins and then crushed Yugoslovakia 6-1 to play the semis against Italy. They ruined two penalties in the normal time and one in the shoot-outs to make way for Italy to reach the final.

Netherlands reached the semi-final of Euro 2004 but eventually lost to Portugal to be eliminated from the competition.

Euro 2008

In Euro 2008, Netherlands were placed in the “group of death”, after a hard fought qualification. The flying Dutchmen were flying as always as they defeated the then World Champions Italy and the runner-ups France before defeating Romania to reach the quarter-finals. There, they were beaten 3-1 by Guus Hiddink’s Russian side.

Results

Win Italy – 3-0

Win France – 4-1

Win Romania – 2-0

Euro 2012

Road to Qualification

The Oranje went on brilliantly after the World Cup to win 9 out of their 10 Euro qualification matches getting 37 points from their 10 matches.

                                                                    Probable Line-up

Stekelenburg

Boulahrouz – Heitinga – Mathijsen - van der Wiel

van Bommel (c)

Sneijder - van der Vaart

Robben - van Persie - Kuyt

Most capped Players

Rafael van der Vaart – 94 caps (17 goals)

Dirk Kuyt – 85 caps (24 goals)

Wesley Sneijder – 81 caps (23 goals)

Top Goalscorers

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar – 31 goals

Robin van Persie – 25 goals

Dirk Kuyt – 24 goals

Man To Watch

                                                                Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie had the season of his life at Arsenal in 2011/12. He scored 37 goals for Arsenal in all competitions this season to make them qualify for the Champions League. He bagged the honors’ of golden boot award and PFA players of the year in this time. At International level, he has been a regular selection for the Dutch side. He scored four goals for Netherlands recently against San Marino, where they won 11-0, their biggest ever victory. So, he can be considered the key man for the Dutch side.