Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup
This is a record of the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup. The Netherlands have appeared in 10 World Cups as of 2014. They hold the record of losing the most finals without managing a single triumph after finishing as runners-up in 1974, 1978, and 2010, losing to West Germany, Argentina and Spain respectively.
In 1934 and 1938, the Netherlands lost in the first round. In 1974 and 1978, with its mastery of Total Football, the Dutch managed to reach two straight finals, losing both to the host teams - West Germany and Argentina, respectively. The team had its biggest World Cup streak in the 1990s, with three straight tournaments. In 1990, two years after the European Championship at the UEFA Euro 1988, the Dutch went out at the Round of 16 in a defeat to West Germany. In 1994, the Netherlands were eliminated by Brazil in the quarterfinals, and in 1998, lost to Brazil in the semifinal and Croatia at the third place match. The Netherlands returned in 2006, being eliminated by Portugal in the Round of 16, a game known as the Battle of Nuremberg. In 2010, the team reached its third World Cup final, this time losing to Spain, with a record number of cards (24 yellow and a yellow red one). Altogether the Dutch team hold the record of most cards per game in World Cup history (79 yellow, 4 yellow red and 3 red in 43 games).[1]
Performance history
Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 | Did Not Enter | |||||||
1934 | Round 1 | 9th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1938 | Round 1 | 14th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
1950 | Did Not Enter | |||||||
1954 | ||||||||
1958 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1962 | ||||||||
1966 | ||||||||
1970 | ||||||||
1974 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 |
1978 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 10 |
1982 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
1986 | ||||||||
1990 | Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
1994 | Quarter-Final | 7th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
1998 | Fourth Place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 3* | 1 | 13 | 7 |
2002 | Did Not Qualify | |||||||
2006 | Round of 16 | 11th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
2010 | Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
2014 | Third Place | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 4 |
Total | 10/20 | 3 Finals | 50 | 27 | 12 | 11 | 86 | 48 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
- **Gold background colour indicates that the tournament was won. Red border colour indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Record by opponent
FIFA World Cup matches (by team) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Opponent | Wins | Draws | Losses | Total |
Argentina | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Austria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Belgium | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Brazil | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Bulgaria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Cameroon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Chile | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Croatia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Czechoslovakia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Denmark | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
East Germany | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Egypt | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
England | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Germany | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Iran | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Ivory Coast | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Morocco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Peru | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Costa Rica | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Portugal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Republic of Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Scotland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Serbia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Slovakia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Sweden | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Uruguay | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Italy 1934
Switzerland | 3–2 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Kielholz 7', 43'[2] Abegglen 69' |
Report | Smit 19' Vente 84' |
France 1938
Czechoslovakia | 3–0 (a.e.t.) | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Košťálek 93' Nejedlý 111'[3] Zeman 118'[4] |
Report |
West Germany 1974
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 |
Sweden | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 |
Bulgaria | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 |
Uruguay | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 |
Uruguay | 0–2 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Report | Rep 16', 86' |
Netherlands | 0–0 | Sweden |
---|---|---|
Report |
Round 2
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 6 |
Brazil | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
East Germany | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 |
Argentina | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 |
East Germany | 0–2 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Report | Neeskens 13' Rensenbrink 59' |
Netherlands | 2–0 | Brazil |
---|---|---|
Neeskens 50' Cruijff 65' |
Report |
Final
Netherlands | 1–2 | West Germany |
---|---|---|
Neeskens 2' (pen.) | Report | Breitner 25' (pen.) Müller 43' |
Argentina 1978
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peru | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 |
Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 3 |
Scotland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 |
Iran | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 1 |
Netherlands | 3–0 | Iran |
---|---|---|
Rensenbrink 40' (pen.), 62', 78' (pen.) | Report |
Netherlands | 0–0 | Peru |
---|---|---|
Report |
Scotland | 3–2 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Dalglish 44' Gemmill 46' (pen.), 68' |
Report | Rensenbrink 34' (pen.) Rep 71' |
Round 2
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 5 |
Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
West Germany | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 2 |
Austria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 2 |
Austria | 1–5 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Obermayer 80' | Report | Brandts 6' Rensenbrink 35' (pen.) Rep 36', 53' W. van de Kerkhof 82' |
Netherlands | 2–2 | West Germany |
---|---|---|
Haan 27' R. van de Kerkhof 82' |
Report | Abramczik 3' D. Müller 70' |
Final
Italy 1990
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
England | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
Republic of Ireland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Netherlands | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Egypt | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
Netherlands | 1–1 | Egypt |
---|---|---|
Kieft 58' | Abdelghani 83' (pen.) |
Netherlands | 1–1 | Republic of Ireland |
---|---|---|
Gullit 10' | Quinn 71' |
Round of 16
West Germany | 2–1 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Klinsmann 51' Brehme 82' |
Report | R. Koeman 89' (pen.) |
USA 1994
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
Saudi Arabia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
Belgium | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 |
Morocco | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 |
Netherlands | 2–1 | Saudi Arabia |
---|---|---|
Jonk 50' Taument 86' |
Report | Amin 18' |
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
France 1998
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 |
Mexico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 5 |
Belgium | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
South Korea | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 1 |
Netherlands | 5–0 | South Korea |
---|---|---|
Cocu 38' Overmars 42' Bergkamp 71' van Hooijdonk 80' R. de Boer 83' |
(Report) |
Netherlands | 2–2 | Mexico |
---|---|---|
Cocu 4' R. de Boer 18' |
(Report) | Peláez 75' Hernández 90+5' |
Round of 16
Netherlands | 2–1 | Yugoslavia |
---|---|---|
Bergkamp 38' Davids 90+2' |
(Report) | Komljenović 48' |
Quarterfinals
Semifinal
Brazil | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Ronaldo 46' | (Report) | Kluivert 87' |
Penalties | ||
Ronaldo Rivaldo Emerson Dunga |
4–2 | F. de Boer Bergkamp Cocu R. de Boer |
Third place match
Netherlands | 1–2 | Croatia |
---|---|---|
Zenden 21' | (Report) | Prosinečki 13' Šuker 35' |
Germany 2006
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 7 |
Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 |
Ivory Coast | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 |
Serbia and Montenegro | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 |
Netherlands | 2–1 | Ivory Coast |
---|---|---|
van Persie 23' van Nistelrooy 27' |
(Report) | B. Koné 39' |
Round of 16
South Africa 2010
Template:2010 FIFA World Cup Group E
Cameroon | 1–2 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Eto'o 65' (pen.) | Report | Van Persie 36' Huntelaar 83' |
Round of 16
Quarterfinals
Semifinal
Uruguay | 2–3 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Forlán 41' M. Pereira 90+2' |
Report | Van Bronckhorst 18' Sneijder 70' Robben 73' |
Final
Brazil 2014
The Netherlands used all 23 players during the 2014 World Cup, making it the first team in World Cup history to ever use all of its squad players.[6] The team avenged their 2010 loss to Spain by defeating the defending champions with a stunning 5-1 victory in their opening game. They went on to achieve their first third place in any World Cup.
Standings
Legend |
---|
Group winners and runners-up advance to the round of 16 |
Template:2014 FIFA World Cup Group B table
- Group winner advance to play runner-up of Group A in the round of 16
- Group runner-up advance to play winner of Group A in the round of 16
Spain vs Netherlands
Spain | 1–5 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Alonso 27' (pen.) | Report | Van Persie 44', 72' Robben 53', 80' De Vrij 65' |
Spain
|
Netherlands
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Australia vs Netherlands
Australia | 2–3 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Cahill 21' Jedinak 54' (pen.) |
Report | Robben 20' Van Persie 58' Memphis 68' |
Australia
|
Netherlands
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Netherlands vs Chile
Netherlands | 2–0 | Chile |
---|---|---|
Fer 77' Memphis 90+2' |
Report |
Netherlands
|
Chile
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Knockout stage
Netherlands vs Mexico
Netherlands | 2–1 | Mexico |
---|---|---|
Sneijder 88' Huntelaar 90+4' (pen.) |
Report | Dos Santos 48' |
Netherlands
|
Mexico
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Netherlands vs Costa Rica
Netherlands | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Costa Rica |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
Van Persie Robben Sneijder Kuyt |
4–3 | Borges Ruiz González Bolaños Umaña |
Netherlands
|
Costa Rica
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Netherlands vs Argentina
Netherlands | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Argentina |
---|---|---|
Report | ||
Penalties | ||
Vlaar Robben Sneijder Kuyt |
2–4 | Messi Garay Agüero Rodríguez |
Netherlands
|
Argentina
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Brazil vs Netherlands
Brazil | 0–3 | Netherlands |
---|---|---|
Report | Van Persie 3' (pen.) Blind 17' Wijnaldum 90+1' |
Brazil
|
Netherlands
|
|
|
Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
|
Top goalscorers
No. | Name | Goals | World Cups |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Rep | 7 | 1974 and 1978 |
2 | Bergkamp | 6 | 1994 and 1998 |
Rensenbrink | 6 | 1974 and 1978 | |
Robben | 6 | 2006, 2010 & 2014 | |
Sneijder | 6 | 2010 & 2014 | |
Van Persie | 6 | 2006, 2010 & 2014 | |
7 | Neeskens | 5 | 1974 |
8 | Cruijff | 3 | 1974 |
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ RSSSF credits this goal as occurring in the 29th minute.
- ^ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 118th minute.
- ^ RSSSF credits this goal as coming in the 111th minute.
- ^ "Referee designations for matches 1-16" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 5 June 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ 3 Michel Vorm And Two Minutes Of Glory sbnation.com
- ^ "Referee designations for matches 1-4" (PDF). fifa.com. 2014-06-10.