Holland Football Formation

Lineup (4-3-3)

Edwin van der Sar · Frank Rijkaard · Ronald Koeman · Ruud Krol · Wim Suurbier · Johan Neeskens · Willem van Hanegem · Ruud Gullit · Johan Cruyff (c) · Faas Wilkes · Marco van Basten

Netherlands' Greatest XI of All Time

With three lost World Cup finals on its resumé, Holland’s reputation as the eternal loser of international football can hardly be called undeserved. But what pleasent losers they’ve been. The iconic orange has graced the shoulders of so many of football’s finest players, that some of the countries that háve won the World Cup are made to look afwully bereft of talent.

From the 70′s onwards, the Dutch have had several world class generations. In the 70′s there was the total football team of Cruyff, Neeskens, Van Hanegem, Krol and Rensenbrink. In the late 80′s Koeman, Rijkaard, Van Basten and Gullit emerged to bring Holland its first silverware. The 90′s saw the rise of such players as Van der Sar, Bergkamp, Davids, Seedorf, Overmars, Stam and De Boer brothers. And currently, it’s the likes of Sneijder, Robben and Van Persie who are making sure that Holland continues to be a force on the world stage. But even in the 50′s, long before the Dutch national team amounted to anything, there were a few excellent players carrying a Dutch passport: Faas Wilkes, Cor van der Hart and Abe Lenstsra, to name a couple.

And in that little summation, already 23 different players have been mentioned. There might be some national teams whose best XI is relatively straight forward to pick – such as Denmark – but that’s clearly not going to be the case with Holland.

So how would All-Star Holland look like? One thing’s for sure: the formation will be Holland’s trademark 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper ~ Edwin van der Sar
Can’t go wrong with Edwin van der Sar on goal. Rose to prominence as the young, ice cold goalie of the Champions League winning Ajax side in the 90′s, and concluded his career in 2011 after his fifth Champions League final. Van der Sar essentially had no flaws. Tall, great reflexes, good distribution, and excellent with his feet. Was once known as weak in penalty series, as Holland got knocked out on penalties in the 1996, 1998 and 2000 tournaments, but he took appropriate revenge with crucial penalty saves in Euro 2004 and in the 2008 Champions League final. There are some who believe that PSV-legend Jan van Beveren was really Holland’s most talented goalie, but that a fight with Cruyff which prevented him from playing much for the Holland national team has caused him to be underrated Maybe. But Van der Sar, with his 130 caps, is surely a safe choice.

Right back ~ Wim Suurbier
If there’s one position that’s always been a problematic spot for Holland to fill it’s right back. But not in the 1970′s. Wim Suurbier was the prototype of a modern attacking side back, and even today he would easily fit in with the world’s best teams. A true dynamo who frequently assisted goals. Part of the Ajax side that won everything under the sun, he played 60 games for Holland, and started in two World Cup finals. Holland have never had another Suurbier.

Right central defender ~ Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman might be one of the worst defenders to play in defense. He was slow and had the agility of a schoolbus. But his glorious long pass, his positional awareness and his brilliant free kick still made him into a world class player. A key member in two European Cup winning teams – PSV and Barcelona – he was once ranked by Cruyff as his best purchase ever for FC Barcelona – better, thus, than Laudrup or Stoichkov. Played 78 caps for Holland.

Left central defender ~ Frank Rijkaard
His years in AC Milan have earned Frank Rijkaard the status as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time, but he was equally apt playing in the heart of defense, as he usually did for Holland and Ajax. Powerful and balanced, he was a nightmare for any player to play against. And when he had the ball, he possessed the vision and technical ability to play it forward with precision.

Left back ~ Ruud Krol
Ruud Krol is surely one of Holland’s best players of all time. In the later stages of his career he was the star of Napoli, playing as a long-ball sending libero. But in the first half of his career he was an aggressive, attacking left back with a love for sliding tackles. Important member of the Ajax side that won three European Cups. Participated in both World Cup finals in the 70′s for Holland, for whom he played a total of 83 games. An elegant hard man.

Defensive midfielder ~ Johan Neeskens
Total Football might not have existed if not for Johan Neeskens. It was his tireless and aggressive chase of the ball that initiated the forward press and offside traps that Ajax and Holland became famous for. He was the one-man engine room, the dynamic runner, the man who would be seen tackling and stealing the ball in his own penalty area, and moments later find himself in the box of the opponent to finish off an attack.

Right midfielder ~ Ruud Gullit
It’s sometimes said of a footballer that he “could play anywhere”. Usually, it’s an exaggeration. In the case of Ruud Gullit, it’s not. A striker at AC Milan, a winger for Holland, a libero at Chelsea – Ruud Gullit simply had the physique, technique and vision to do the job no matter where he found himself on the pitch. Not to mention his presence and charisma giving any team a genuine confidence boost. Won the Ballon d’Or in 1987, captained Holland to Euro triumph in 1988, and won the European Cup with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990. This man can’t be absent.

Left midfielder ~ Willem van Hanegem
Extremely underrated everywhere outside of Holland, Willem van Hanegem is generally regarded by his fellow Dutchmen as second only to Johan Cruyff as the best Dutch footballer of all time. Never featuring in any of Europe’s big leagues, playing in the service of Cruyff in the 1974 World Cup, and boycotting the 1978 edition, Van Hanegem never stood in the international limelight. But It was he who was the great star player of the Feyenoord that won the 1970 European Cup and that battled Ajax for domestic and European dominance in the early seventies. Van Hanegem was incredibly slow, but his passing was absolutely brilliant, as was his close control. And if his flawless touch went missing for a game, he could always compensate it with his infamous physical approach.

Right forward ~ Faas Wilkes
Perhaps the surprise pick on the team. After all, Holland’s catalogue of wingers is among the most impressive in the world. Marc Overmars, Johnny Rep, Arjen Robben, Rob Rensenbrink, Piet Keizer, Coen Moulijn – all of them would look good in this All-Time team. And Wilkes, who starred in the 1950′s, certainly doesn’t share the fame of some of the previously mentioned. But he really was something else. A pure dribbler, he rarely passed the ball, prefering to destroy defenses on his own. Became a star player for Inter and Valencia, and scored 35 goals in 38 games for Holland. For a Johan Cruyff’s favourite player as a kid.

Striker ~ Marco van Basten
If Faas Wilkes’s appearance was something of a surprise, that of Van Basten is the opposite. One of the best center forwards to ever play football, he comfortably beats out the heavy competition for this spot. Kluivert, Bergkamp, Van Nistelrooy are all excellent strikers, and Van Persie still is, but you can’t argue with a man who three Ballon d’Ors. An achievement all the more impressive when considering an injury effectively ended his career at age 28. Van Basten was as complete as they come. Physically strong, tall, good with both feet, great at heading, a passer and dribbler as well as a finisher and a crafter of wonder goals.

Left forward ~ Johan Cruyff
It can certainly be argued that the best European footballer of All-Time deserves a spot in this team. Or better yet, this team couldn’t be taken seriously if Cruyff wasn’t in it. Some people might wonder: but where will he play? The answer is: everywhere. On paper, he is posted on his favoured left wing, but it’s clear that Cruyff, with his brilliant technique, acceleration and unsurpassed vision, warrants a free role. He can go wherever he likes. The rest just has to pay attention and adjust their positions accordingly. Total Football.

Coach/Manager : Rinus Michels, Ernst Happel, Guus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard.

Reserves include : Dennis Bergkamp, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids, Arjen Robben, Cor van der Hart, Frank de Boer, Phillip Cocu, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rob Rensenbrink, Jan van Beveren, Clarence Seedorf, Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert, Rafael Van der Vaart, Johnny Rep, Wesley Sneijder, Ronald De Boer, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Hans van Breukelen and Robin van Persie.