World cup preview : Group A Netherlands 

Netherlands are one of the regulars of the FIFA world Cups and are admired by football fans all across the globe. Netherlands provided the world with the gems like Johan Cryuff, Van Basten, Bergkamp, Van Persey and Arjen Robben. This time Louis Van Gaal is hopeful with his third stint to reach the farthest of the tournament. The Netherlands is currently at 10th in the FIFA rankings.

Throughout the course of their history, the Netherlands Football team displayed remarkable results in international stage despite the star-crossed record they possess, being the team with most amounts of final appearances and failing to win one. The team made its first international appearance back in 1905 against Belgium. In the 1934 World Cup, the Dutch football team made its first appearance in the FIFA World Cup. However, they failed to appear for any world cup matches after 1938, until 1974. In the FIFA World Cup, they hold the record of the team with the highest number of World Cup finals appearances without ever winning one. The team lost to West Germany, Argentina and Spain in 1974, 1978 and 2010 World Cups, respectively. In the 1998 World Cup, they were beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals

In the 1970s, they invented the best game play of total football, which meant any outfield player could take over the role of any player on the field. This tactical game play was led by Johan Cryuff and Coach Rinus Michels. In context to the recurrence in their quality of performance, the team is expected to deliver their usual strategic stride on field. In the 2014 World Cup UEFA qualifying rounds, they won 9 matches and 1 draw, which resulted in an automatic qualification in the World Cup matches and they were showing promising progress until their defeat to Brazil.

Netherlands sealed their World Cup qualifying stage with a 2-0 victory over Norway and joined Group A. The match was played behind closed gates as the Covid Cases is at rise once again. Captain Virgil Van Dijk noted the existence of some section that the team will need to consider for improvisation. However, at the end of the day the result is all that counts. The victory is sure to boost the team morale and he believes the team is ready for the group matches to be played in Qatar. He further commented on the injury of Van Gaal who was seen at the stand. Virgil stated that it was sad to watch the national coach in the stands far away from the field and the empty galleries.

Netherlands aced the group G stage of the qualifiers and the three-time runner up of the World Cup is expected to be one of the two teams from Group A who are going to be selected in the knockout stage.

The team scored the most as a European team in FIFA World Cup with 329 goals and they scored 33 goals in World Cup 2022 Qualifiers.