WORLD CUP 2022 NATION PRESENTATION: NETHERLANDS

NICKNAME: Oranje

MANAGER: Louis van Gaal- 2nd WC as Oranje manager. He lead them to 3rd place in 2014.

MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Wesley Sneijder- 134 caps from 2003 to 2018

TOP SCORER: Robin van Persie- 50 goals from 2005 to 2017

HOST NATION: -

WORLD CUP RECORD: WC in Qatar will be 11th for Netherlands.

BEST RESULT: Netherlands played in three WC finals. Back-to-back '74 and '78 plus 2010. Here is their team from 1974. At that time there were only four groups, so 16 qualified teams. Oranje were in group 3 with Uruguay, Sweden and Bulgaria. They won the first place with a draw against Sweden and wins against two other opponents. In the next round qualified teams created two new groups. Group winners were into the world cup final while second placed teams played a match for 3rd place. So Netherlands was in group A with Argentina, East Germany and Brazil. 3 out of 3. All three wins for this great Dutch side. First one against Argentina 4-0 and then E. Germany and Brazil with the same result 2-0. Other group winner was host nation West Germany who also gained all three wins. In an exciting final match, everything started great for the Oranje. Neeskens scored a penalty goal just after two minutes. Penalty for the other side. It was the 25th min and Braitner scored an equalizer. Two minutes before half-time "Der Bomber" Gerd Muller gave Germans the lead. With a goalless second half Germany won their second world cup title.