It’s 35 years since the Dutch won their only title so far. The long wait should be over this week – even if it’s only about the Nations League.
June 25, 1988 is still a day that every football fan in the Netherlands knows. Thanks in part to a dream goal by Marco van Basten, the “Oranje” team won the European Championship in Germany 35 years ago – it is still the only title in the history of the small but proud soccer nation.
Also there at the time: Ronald Koeman. Like this week, when the “Elftal” tries to finally win a trophy again by winning the Nations League.
“For me, the Nations League is a real prize, an extra chance for a national team to win something. There aren’t that many chances for that.”, Koeman said before the first semi-final of the four-nation tournament against World Cup third-placed Croatia in Rotterdam this Wednesday (8:45 p.m.). In the second semi-final in Enschede on Thursday (8.45 p.m.) European champions Italy and Spain will face off. The final then takes place again on Sunday (8.45 p.m.) at De Kuip in Rotterdam.
“They still talk about 1988, but that was an eight-team tournament that we won back then.”said the former libero and current Bonds coach about the great success of 1988, on the way to which the prestige duel with the DFB-Elf was won in the semifinals in Hamburg. “When you win a title for your country, that’s forever linked to your name,” said Koeman. “We can make history.”
Atmosphere around “Oranje” not the best
Of course, Koeman also knows that winning the Nations League, which UEFA added to the program five years ago to further maximize profits, would not trigger boundless euphoria in the Netherlands as it did in 1988 or in 2010 after winning the runners-up World Cup in South Africa. Winning the home tournament would come in handy as a mood booster.
Because, like in Germany, the atmosphere around the national team isn’t the best in the Netherlands either. The 2018 World Cup was missed, the 2021 European Championship ended in the round of 16 against the Czech Republic and at the World Cup last winter in Qatar, the quarter-finals under Louis van Gaal did not cause any storms of jubilation. The performances of “Elftal” were too weak and boring – even if the pugnacious van Gaal of course saw it completely differently.
Now it’s up to van Gaal’s predecessor and successor Koeman to get the “Oranje” team back on track. The big goal is the European Championships in Germany next year, where the Dutch want to have a say again. However, the start of the qualification went wrong. At 0:4 in France, the “Elftal” had no chance for a long time. Koeman was downright appalled by the performance of his team, who “played without ideas, power and inspiration”. Everything must be better against Croatia, Koeman demanded.
Difficult task
However, the task against Croatia will be difficult. The Croatians have been among the best teams in Europe for years, and Luka Modric and Co. surprisingly won bronze in Qatar. Now the Nations League title is to come in Rotterdam. “We have a great desire to win this tournament”, said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic. For real star Modric it would be the first major title with the national team. “We are not afraid of anyone”Modric clarified.
In the other semi-final, Spain’s new coach Luis de la Fuente faces his first test. Opponents Italy and their clubs caused a sensation internationally this season. However, Fiorentina, AS Roma and Inter Milan lost all three European Cup finals.