RIVERSIDE, Mo. (AP) — A road leads to the practice facility the Netherlands uses for games. world cup The base camp was supposed to be welcoming, but the Dutch “Welcome” sign made one of the world’s top teams feel like home.
The street name Teal Rising Way, a tribute to Kansas City Current, the National Women’s Soccer League franchise whose facilities are used by the Dutch national team, will also be temporarily changed to Orange Rising Way for the next six weeks in honor of the team’s orange color.
But perhaps someone should have reconsidered the white sign marking an important World Cup milestone for the Netherlands.
None of them remind us that this country has yet to win this tournament.
Defender Virgil van Dijk, who will be playing in his second World Cup, said: “How far can we go? Yes, I hope we can continue until the end.” He will again captain the Dutch team in group play against Japan in Dallas on Sunday.
“I know how difficult it is,” admitted the Liverpool player after a recent training session under the unforgiving Midwestern sun, with the heat index approaching triple digits. “But we’re going to put our all into Japan first and foremost. That’s going to get all our attention. We don’t think too far ahead. But we all have big dreams and we’re going to give everything we have.”
The Netherlands have reached three World Cup finals but have yet to win them all.
The Netherlands has long held the undesirable nickname of being the best country to never win a World Cup trophy. In fact, they are the only country to reach the final three times without winning.
In 1974, the Netherlands returned to the World Cup after a drought of nearly 40 years, and Johan Cruyff’s remarkable play led them to the final. There, the Netherlands faced hosts West Germany and its star player Franz Beckenbauer. The Netherlands quickly scored with a penalty, but West Germany hit back with two goals before half-time, and the Dutch remained unable to find the back of the net in the second half in front of a crowd of more than 78,000 at Munich’s Olympiastadion.
It was certainly disappointing, but if you ask any Dutch fan, they’ll tell you that 1978 was even worse.
Argentina faced the hosts again in the final, leading 1-0 at half-time until Dick Nanninga scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute. The match went into extra time, with Mario Kempes scoring the second goal of the game for hosts Argentina and Daniel Bertoni adding another in front of a raucous crowd at Buenos Aires’ River Plate Stadium.
The Netherlands reached their third final in 2010, playing Spain for the title in Johannesburg, South Africa. This match was also a stalemate in overtime, but it was decided in the 116th minute by Andres Iniesta’s goal.
Good performances in recent World Cups have given the Netherlands reason to believe.
The Netherlands reached the semi-finals in 2014, but inexplicably missed out on a spot in 2018. However, Van Dijk made a comeback at the 2022 Qatar tournament with Van Dijk leading the way. The Netherlands advanced through group play with one goal conceded, overwhelming the United States in the Round of 16, before losing to eventual champion Argentina in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals.
However, if you remove the penalties, the Netherlands are unbeaten in their last 12 World Cup matches. The only country with a longer record is Brazil, who fell short of Pele’s great play in 13 consecutive games from 1958 to 1966.
“I think we have great players, especially the people. We get along very well with each other,” Van Dijk said. “But obviously it’s all about results. It’s all about performance. All the players here, especially the players who have played at the highest level for many years and have experienced great things in their careers. Winning trophies. Playing for big clubs.”
“They’re here trying to make their country proud. That’s the biggest thing you can do.”
The Dutch have the advantage of being eliminated from the group, but their path to the final tournament is It won’t be easy. The trio of Japan, Sweden and Tunisia have had a series of tricky matches, with Ronald Koeman’s side struggling with injuries. Defender Julian Timber is already sidelined with a groin injury, while goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen is recovering from a recent hip injury.
It is unclear whether Verbruggen will play against Japan on Sunday.
Coach Koeman said, “We know that Japan is strong. We analyzed the team and players.” “We talked about their system, where they usually play and the physical condition of the players. It’s difficult, but we believe in ourselves. We respect Japan, but we are the Netherlands and they will respect us as well. It will be an interesting game and I think it will be a difficult game.”
___
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
