France

In 1938 the world cup was hosted by France but was once again won by Italy. It was the same story as well for the Netherlands national football team. The team managed to hold Czechoslovakia to 0-0 after 90 minutes, but succumbed to a 3-0 loss in extra-time. It was another first round exit for the side.

West Germany

The team either did not enter or did not qualify for another world cup until 1974. Held in West Germany, it was the hosts who beat the Netherlands national football team in the final. After so long away from the world cup the team came back with a bang. Two wins and a draw from their opening three games left them top of the group and into the second round.

It was a double group format in 1974 so the side went into their next group containing Brazil, Argentina and East Germany. A 4-0 win over Argentina, and back-to-back 2-0 successes saw them once again top the group and move onto the final. Despite taking the lead, West Germany came back to win 2-1, and begin the Netherlands’ world cup frustrations.

Argentina

In 1978 the world cup was held in Argentina and once again won by it’s hosts. The Netherlands national football team again made it to the final, and again lost. Things began well in the group stage with the team beating Iran 3-0, and drawing with Peru. The team came unstuck against Scotland however, losing 3-2. This left them qualifying for the next round in second place.

In the second group, wins against Austria and Italy, and a draw with West Germany, put them top and into the final. In the final an 82nd minute equaliser seemed to have given the Netherlands the momentum. Two Argentina goals in extra-time, however, gave them a 3-1 win.

Italy

After strong performances in the 1972 and 1978 world cups, the Netherlands national football team didn’t qualify again until 1990. This time the world cup was hosted by Italy and won for a third time by West Germany. The team didn’t win a game in their group, but still managed to progress. Draws with Egypt, England and the Republic of Ireland saw them qualify as one of the best third placed teams. We were back to a knock-out format in 1990 and the side came up against old rivals and eventual winners West Germany in the last 16. A 2-1 loss saw the unpredictable Dutch exit the tournament.

United States

The 1994 world cup was hosted by the United States and won for a fourth time by Brazil. The Netherlands national football team endured a nervy group stage but topped the group. A narrow 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in the first game was followed by a 1-0 loss to Belgium. A late winner against Morocco in the last game somehow saw them top on goals scored. The Netherlands beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in the last 16, before moving onto Brazil in the quarter-final. In a match that came alive in the second half, the Dutch came back from 2-0 down, only to lose 3-2 after a late Brazil winner.

France

France hosted and won the world cup in 1998. Draws with Belgium and Mexico sandwiched a 5-0 win over South Korea, so the Netherlands national football team topped the group on goal difference. Back-to-back 2-1 wins over Yugoslavia and Argentina put the team into another clash with Brazil. A late Netherlands goal sent the game to extra-time and then penalties, but the Brazilians held their nerve to win 4-2. They went on to lose the third place play-off to Croatia.

Germany

The Netherlands national football team missed out on qualifying for the 2002 world cup but returned in 2006. Held in Germany, the tournament was won by Italy for a fourth time. In the group stage wins against Serbia and Montenegro and Ivory Coast were followed up by a draw with Argentina. They progressed in second place. The last 16 was as good as it got for the side as they lost 1-0 to Portugal.

South Africa

The world cup went to Africa for the first time in 2010. South Africa were the hosts and the tournament was won by Spain for the first time. The Netherlands national football team were strong in the group stage. They recorded wins against Denmark, Japan and Cameroon. In the last 16 they beat Slovakia 2-1 and then finally overcame Brazil by the same scoreline in the quarter-final. In the semi-final a 3-2 win over another South American side Uruguay advanced them to their third final. In a game remembered for a lack of ‘Total Football’ and an excess of physicality from the Dutch, it was Spain who eventually triumphed 1-0 after extra time.

Brazil

In 2014 the world cup was hosted by Brazil and won by Germany, who became the first European side to win the tournament in South America. After losing the 2010 world cup final to them, the Netherlands national football team again played Spain in their opening fixture. They got their revenge in a 5-1 thumping. A battling 3-2 win over Australia in the next match qualified the side with a game to spare. A 2-0 win over Chile put them top of the group with maximum points. In the last 16 the side seemed to be heading out. Losing 1-0 the team scored in the 88th minute to equalise. They then scored a controversial penalty in injury time to eliminate opponents Mexico.

The quarter final saw them face tournament surprise package Costa Rica. Despite being the better team they could not score. The game went all the way to penalties without a goal, where fortunately the Netherlands held their nerve to win 4-3. In the semi-final against Argentina neither side could score again. This time the team lost on penalties and were put into the third place play-off. A 3-0 win over a shell-shocked Brazil followed, to represent another near miss for the Dutch.

Russia

The Netherlands national football team have been drawn in Group A alongside France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, and Luxembourg.