Here it is: The Best Oranje Ever!

In a best world team, only JC would feature, in a Europe team (think one was done 2 years ago) only Mvb & Cruyff made it with Neeskens as a sub.
Nice to chat/read about these “possible” teams but reality tells me to start concentrating on the Olympics. When was the last time Holland was there ? 1928 - Amsterdam ? Anyone has any results/records/history ?

Posted from  Singapore

My own best 11:

——- van der Sar —–

-Suurbier - R.Koeman — Krol

———- Rijkaard ——–

Neeskens - Bergkamp - van Hanegem

—– Gullit —– Cruyff

——- Van Basten ———-

Subs: van Beveren, Stam, Wouters, Cocu, Rensenbrink, Rep, van Nistelrooy

Now here’s a challenge for you all - who are the WORST 11 players ever to play for Oranje?

@ Brian - Rene Eykelkamp for one

Also Jan, think its unfair to give a sub position to someone who is already in the team (Overmars/Bergkamp)….where’s Jimmy Floyd (lol)

BTW speaking of those 2 players, in 94 we had a ditty which went something like this
Ashes to ashes - dust to dust - If Bergkamp doesn’t get you - Overmars !

Posted from  Singapore

@ Carlos - for me, I can make a spot for Bolo Zenden. The guy must have some pretty incriminating pics on a whole slew of football managers to have played at the top level - pub player at best

Hahaha…actually I have seen Zenden play some good games for Holland and I think he has 50+ caps right…think Eykelkamp had 2 caps ??

OK I found a good link on Olympic Football, the history and the schedules for those who are interested. Looks like the last time we played was 1952 !! We have won 3 Bronze medals tho here it is…good ole wiki !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_at_the_Summer_Olympics

Posted from  Singapore

i love this team, just imagine these players were together at the same period of time.

@Brian,

Worst Oranje …. EVER …. Winston Bogarde (20 caps for the Oranje?) …. no doubt.

Especially if you consider the relative value that Chelsea was paying him.

–H

This is a great team but seriously the Netherlands ad Oranje have to get over the “small country” mentality and start consistantly winning tournaments and de-throning some of these over-rated football nations.

I am getting ready for the WC and hoping to see a new generation of Dutch trophy winners earning their spots in the side.

Posted from  Canada

my worst Oranje;

—————Menzo——————–

—–Boogarde—–deWolf——–vIerssel—

—-R.Witsche—–Engelaar—–Zenden——

——Yildrim—–JordiCruijff—-vandeBergh–

——————vLoen———————–

Posted from  Netherlands

After this list of all time greats, couldn’t help myself but to throw in a little piece of trivia:

Who holds the current record for most goals scored in FIFA World Cups for Oranje (qualifiers dont count, only tournaments)?

And for all you young wooppersnappers out there,just in case, it is not Van Goal.

Posted from  United States

‘Tis Johnny Rep who holds that record.

Posted from  United States

Wow, Brian that was fast!!

Expected that to take a little longer, but you are indeed correct. Johnny Rep, the right winger from the beloved Ajax team of the seventies holds that record. He scored 7 goals total for Oranje in the WC which is pretty remarkable given the fact he scored 12 times for Holland in total. That’s a pretty good “big game” percentage.

Posted from  United States

I know that EVDS is the most capped Oranje ever. Hoever I would not mind if someone could post a list of say top 10-20? It’s got to be out there, but after visiting the KNVB site and failing miserably due to a severe lack of Dutch speaking capabilities, I just gave up (funny how when you click on ‘English’ the only thing you get is the shop…I guess the Dutch were always famous traders

Maybe some of you can dig up a list for me?

Posted from  United States

Here you go, Finnster!

http://www.voetbalstats.nl/nedxi/caps.html

Posted from  United States

Thanks Brian.

That list has got my memories going (actually brought a tear to my eye too, sad but true)…Bennie Muller, Arie Haan…

Posted from  United States

Beijing 2008:Benitez fear over Babel’s Beijing dream.
It seems like Benitez, Ryan Babel’s head coach at Liverpool, does not want Babel to go to the Olympics during the summer.
Here’s the link:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080709/tsp-fbl-oly-2008-beijing-eng-pr-liverpoo-47c0590.html
Will Babel listen to his coach?Or does Babel’s loyalty to the National Team takes precedence over his club, and any other sporting matters.

Posted from  United States

Babel will do what every Dutch player of note has done in the past when faced with a dilemma. Do what’s best for MYSELF !

Posted from  Singapore

Found this on YouTube - two words to strike sorrow in the heart of any old timer Oranje fan.

George.

Grun.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=1Ph80TGL64Y

Last hurrah of Willy van der Kerkhof (the last of the golden 70’s team), Wijnstekers and van de Korput. Would have been interesting to see how well Oranje would have done if they had held on and qualified.

Guys:

Gullit is not right back and Bergkamp is not a winger…so this is my line up. With a 4-5-1

1- van der Sar

2- Krol 3- Koeman 5- De Boer

4- Rijkaard

6- Davids

10- Gullit 8- van Hanegem

7- Bergkamp 14- Cruyff

9- van Basten

1 van der Sar; 2- Krol, 3- Koeman, 5-de Boer; 6-Davids, 7-Bergkamp, 8-van Hanegem, 10-Bergkamp, 11-Cruyff; 9- van Basten.

Bench: Stam, van Earle, Wouters, Overmars, van Nistelrooy, Neeskens, Resenbrink.

I missed Rijkaard as number 4 in central defense becoming a midfielder at times.

Good stuff Mario, looks exciting.

And yes, George Grun… John van Loen, in Goose’ list of worst players for Oranje, was in charge of marking the tall Belgium defender and was beaten to it in the last five minutes of the game! Horror!

I was at that game, and sat basically in line with Grun when he scored that goal. I think I cried :-). My dad was there too and we had to park the car a far way from the Stadium and during the walk to the Kuip, he bust his knee.

George Bloody Grun…

@MR; like what you did…. but you reckon Davids was better than Neeskens??

Jan; what do you think; Davids or Neeskens (i never saw Neeskens play)

George Grun; didnt he score against us during the WC94??? trough the legs of Jan Wouters after a corner???

Posted from  Netherlands

Yes, Goose, it was the same Grun. He should have been Dutch. Like Nilis.

Ah…Nees or Davids. Very very hard question. I’d have to say Nees, but I am a big Davids fan too. Davids had more technical skill, Nees had his flying, spectacular tackles and penetration. He was a combination between Andre Hoekstra and Edgar Davids :-).

Nees had that quality that made you love him. The angle face, the bloodsmeared shirts, the pressing, hunting, tackling… They called him El Toro in Barca. Whenever Nees started forechecking, the whole team woke up and the opponents quivered

Neeskens was also known as “Iron Legs” hard as nails, was asked to mark Paolo Rossi in ‘78….Rossi hardly touched the ball.
I’d have Neeskens in before Davids for only ONE reason…less chance of playing with one less player. Am a BIG Davids fan !

Posted from  Singapore