The Netherlands used to be really good. I solemnly swear it. At the 2014 World Cup, Robin van Persie made us believe in the possibility of the human body achieving flight. At the 2010 World Cup, Wesley Sneijder demonstrated everything that is possible in an impeccable Dutch playmaker.
Now, here we are in 2016, sitting in front of the television, watching the Netherlands and wondering if this isn’t Sneijder’s testimonial match. Is Georginio Wijnaldum the pre-game Dutch player to watch according to analysts because if you don’t, he’ll simply disappear from the game altogether? What nefarious piece of information does Luuk de Jong know about Danny Blind that forces the coach to include him in the squad? Finally, what does Danny Blind actually know?
The Dutch have transformed from Total Football to Total Shite. They used to explore the pitch for vacant spaces with which to run and collect the ball, now they appear to be searching for spaces in which to hide.
The Netherlands used to boast that any player in their squad could quickly and seamlessly take the role of another on the pitch, now it’s difficult to determine if Daryl Janmaat and Daley Blind are capable of playing any position whatsoever.
The Netherlands have lost five straight matches at home for the first time in their history. They’ve now lost to Greece for the first time in their history.
In a World Cup qualifying group with France, Sweden and Bulgaria, failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup would match the low point the Dutch team hit post-Total Football, when they failed to qualify for the 1982 World Cup, Euro 1984 and the 1986 World Cup on the trot.
Disregard their reputation, and that’s looking a very real possibility.
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