NETHERLANDS

Get the Widget! Show off your team support with this FREE widget! Powered by iStopOver.com

It’s simple! Just click on “Get Widget” under the widget and follow the online instructions. You can install widgets on Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, iGoogle, WordPress, TypePad or ANYWHERE you can embed HTML code.

Team Profile

The Netherlands enjoyed major success at the FIFA World Cup during the 1970s where they reached the Finals in back-to-back years in 1974 and 1978. However, they failed to turn those two final showings with a championship title, losing to West Germany 2-1 in ‘74 and again to Argentina 3-1 in ’78. Their losses at the last hurdle in 1974 and 1978 represent Dutch football’s two most glorious, and painful, moments from their eight FIFA World Cup participations. World Cup 2010 South Africa will be their ninth World Cup appearance. Netherlands had to wait until 1988 to clinch their first, and only, major title: the UEFA European Championship.

Since the final showing in 1978, Netherlands have yet to reach another World Cup final even though they regularly rank among the the top during pre-tournament standings. Netherlands is currently ranked 3rd in the world coming into World Cup 2010 South Africa. The best finish they had since their last finals appearance was finishing in fourth place, losing to Croatia 2-1 in the third place round, after losing to Italy in the semi-finals during World Cup France 1998. A low point came in 2002 when the Netherlands failed to qualify for the final phase of the FIFA World Cup.

For World Cup 2006 Germany, an impressive qualification campaign had the Dutch fans dreaming of glory again, only for their side to be ousted in Germany in the round of 16 to Portugal with a final score of 1-0.

With the likes of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Robin van Persie , Netherlands will now be hopeful of making a place at South Africa 2010 their own.

UEFA Group Stage Standings

Official Site: http://www.knvb.nl/