FRANCE 98 – Team Detail

Reached the World Cup final in 1974 and 1978 with what was considered a ‘dream team’ but lost both times, first to Germany and then Argentina. Failed to qualify for the 1982 and ’86 since finals but came back in 1990 and then again in 1994 where they reached the quarter-finals

At club level, Ajax Amsterdam, winners of four European Cups (1971,72,73,95), Cup Winners Cup (1987), UEFA Cup (1992), Supercup (1972,73,95), Intercontinental Cup (1972,95), 26 league titles and 12 Dutch Cups, are one of Europe’s top sides. PSV Eindhoven, European Cup winners in 1988, UEFA Cup (1978), 14 league titles and seven Dutch Cups is also one of the best sides in Europe.

In the 1970’s players such as Johan Cruyff (Ajax Amsterdam), the most famous Dutch player ever, Robbie Rensenbrink (RSC Anderlecht), Willem van Hanegem (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Johan Neeskens (Ajax Amsterdam) and Ruud Krol (Ajax Amsterdam) became internationally famous. After the sucess of the 70’s Holland went into a slump but soon came back to the fore, winning the European Championship in 1988 and then reaching the semi-final of Euro ’92.

Considered amongst one of the strongest sides in Europe, Holland finished top of their qualifying group for France.

Holland is helped by the fact that several of their top players play for top European sides (Reiziger at Barcelona, Kluivert at AC Milan, Winter at Inter Milan, Seedorf at Real Madrid, Bergkamp and Overmars at Arsenal).