Germany and Netherlands football rivalry
Encyclopedia
The football rivalry between Germany
and the Netherlands
is one of the few longstanding football rivalries at a national level. Beginning in 1974 when the Dutch lost the 1974 FIFA World Cup
to West Germany in the final (though deeply rooted in Dutch anti-German sentiment
due to the occupation of the Netherlands by Germany during the Second World War) the rivalry between the two nations has become one of the best known international football rivalries in the world.
Both belong to the strongest
football nations of the world, and have met a total of 37 times (of which only 9 matches were competitive) which resulted in 14 victories for Germany, 10 for the Netherlands and 14 draw
s.
resulting from World War II
in which, during a five-year German occupation, a quarter of a million Dutch people died and the country itself was devastated. In particular, matches up until 1988 show a strong emotional connection between war experiences alongside the sportive element among the Dutch, but inevitably this has lessened with the passage of time.
When Germany and the Netherlands met in the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup
(which was also their first competitive match since 1945) the Dutch, despite being strong favorites, lost to the Germans which resulted in a national trauma
which is poetically referred to as "De moeder aller nederlagen" ("The mother of all defeats") in Dutch
.
The loss of the 1974 final was a source of great bitterness among the Dutch and it would not be until 1988 (when the Dutch beat the Germans and went on to become the new European Champions) that the public pressure on the Dutch team to be successful relaxed somewhat. The two competitive matches which would take place before the latter were notoriously aggressive, and created a lot of pressure on both sides. The 1980 match would see Toni Schumacher
and Huub Stevens
fighting on field, whereas René van de Kerkhof
would go on to punch Bernd Schuster
in the eye.
During the semi-final of the UEFA Euro 1988, the Dutch defeated Germany (the host country) 2–1 with a goal by Marco van Basten in the very last minute of the game. After the game Ronald Koeman
of the Dutch national team pretended to wipe his backside with Olaf Thon
's jersey, creating outrage in Germany.
The Dutch proceeded to win the final against the Soviet Union. When the team returned to the Netherlands and were celebrated in the capital Amsterdam
, headcoach Rinus Michels
stood in front of the Dutch Royal Palace and said to the crowd: "We won the tournament, but we all know that the semi-final was the real final".
The Netherlands exploded into a mass celebration. As the Dutch team returned home they were paraded through the canals of Amsterdam
as people jumped in the water and swam towards the players to congratulate them.
Following the 1988 match, anti-German sentiment became much less prominent among the Dutch, as defeating the Germans and going on to win the cup, in Germany itself, was to many the closest they would ever come to repaying Germany. It also marked a new phase in the rivalry because with the war-related sentiment lessened on the Dutch side, the Germans now as a consequence also became far more vocal about the football rivalry, which they had avoided previously. The rivalry continued, but the tone (though still highly competitive) became less aggressive.
. This match is seen as the main catalyst for the modern German-Dutch rivalry, in which both Germany and the Netherlands enthusiastically participate.
Before kick-off the Dutch supporters shouted down the Deutschlandlied with boos and the Germans replied by chanting "Deutschland! Deutschland!" during the playing of Het Wilhelmus. The game that followed was notable for its many fouls and other incidents. After Rudi Völler
had been hacked down by Frank Rijkaard, who was subsequently booked, Rijkaard spat in Völler's hair. After the following free kick, Völler and the Dutch keeper van Breukelen had contact, both trying to get the ball, and van Breukelen and Rijkaard shouted at Völler and Rijkaard pulled Völler's hair. The referee sent both Rijkaard and Völler off, and Rijkaard spat in Völler's hair a second time when both players left the pitch. Germany won the match 2–1 and went on to win the tournament and become World Champions.
In 1992 the Dutch beat Germany 3–1 during the group stage of the 1992 European Championship. The last competitive match between the two nations, during the group stages of the 2004 European Championship in Portugal
, ended in a 1–1 draw. In 2011 Germany beat Holland comprehensively 3–0 in a friendly match.
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Second group stage, 1978 FIFA World Cup
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Group stages UEFA Euro 1980
----
Semi Final, UEFA Euro 1988
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Second round, 1990 FIFA World Cup
----
Group stages UEFA Euro 1992
----
Group stages UEFA Euro 2004
Museums;
In television
;
During the 1990s
and 2000s a lot of adverts appeared, at first on Dutch television later also on German networks, which referenced the Dutch-German football rivalry. Including;
A number of novelty songs have also been written, these include;
On both sides, there are many jokes about the opponent periodically told on the occasion of matches between Germany and the Netherlands.
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
and the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
is one of the few longstanding football rivalries at a national level. Beginning in 1974 when the Dutch lost the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
to West Germany in the final (though deeply rooted in Dutch anti-German sentiment
Anti-German sentiment
Anti-German sentiment is defined as an opposition to or fear of Germany, its inhabitants, and the German language. Its opposite is Germanophilia.-Russia:...
due to the occupation of the Netherlands by Germany during the Second World War) the rivalry between the two nations has become one of the best known international football rivalries in the world.
Both belong to the strongest
Strongest football nations by Elo Ratings
National football teams can be ranked by their average Elo scores over time periods, following similar approaches in for example chess. The averages over time are calculated from the scores on the .-Strongest teams since the mid to late 1960s:...
football nations of the world, and have met a total of 37 times (of which only 9 matches were competitive) which resulted in 14 victories for Germany, 10 for the Netherlands and 14 draw
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
s.
1974–88
For the Dutch, the origins of the rivalry are primarily based on the anti-German sentimentAnti-German sentiment
Anti-German sentiment is defined as an opposition to or fear of Germany, its inhabitants, and the German language. Its opposite is Germanophilia.-Russia:...
resulting from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in which, during a five-year German occupation, a quarter of a million Dutch people died and the country itself was devastated. In particular, matches up until 1988 show a strong emotional connection between war experiences alongside the sportive element among the Dutch, but inevitably this has lessened with the passage of time.
When Germany and the Netherlands met in the final of the 1974 FIFA World Cup
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
(which was also their first competitive match since 1945) the Dutch, despite being strong favorites, lost to the Germans which resulted in a national trauma
National trauma
A national trauma is a crisis or a tragic experience which affects the spirit of a nation or an ethnicity, sometimes for generations to come. Large-scale disasters like war or genocide inevitably have this effect, but in an otherwise stable and prosperous country even a specific event can be...
which is poetically referred to as "De moeder aller nederlagen" ("The mother of all defeats") in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
The loss of the 1974 final was a source of great bitterness among the Dutch and it would not be until 1988 (when the Dutch beat the Germans and went on to become the new European Champions) that the public pressure on the Dutch team to be successful relaxed somewhat. The two competitive matches which would take place before the latter were notoriously aggressive, and created a lot of pressure on both sides. The 1980 match would see Toni Schumacher
Harald Schumacher
Harald Anton Schumacher , commonly known as Toni Schumacher, is a German former football goalkeeper, and a member of the West German national team. He won the 1980 European Championship and lost two World Cup finals, in 1982 and 1986...
and Huub Stevens
Huub Stevens
Hubertus "Huub" Jozef Margaretha Stevens is a Dutch football manager and former defender.- Playing career :...
fighting on field, whereas René van de Kerkhof
René van de Kerkhof
Reinier "René" Lambertus van de Kerkhof is a former Dutch football player, who played for FC Twente and PSV Eindhoven....
would go on to punch Bernd Schuster
Bernd Schuster
Bernhard Schuster is a German football manager and former player, currently unemployed. His nickname is "der Blonde Engel" .-Club career:...
in the eye.
During the semi-final of the UEFA Euro 1988, the Dutch defeated Germany (the host country) 2–1 with a goal by Marco van Basten in the very last minute of the game. After the game Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
of the Dutch national team pretended to wipe his backside with Olaf Thon
Olaf Thon
Olaf Thon is a retired German footballer, and a current coach.Mainly a central midfielder, his 19-year professional career was solely associated to Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich, having amassed more than 500 official games and 100 goals for both combined...
's jersey, creating outrage in Germany.
The Dutch proceeded to win the final against the Soviet Union. When the team returned to the Netherlands and were celebrated in the capital Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, headcoach Rinus Michels
Rinus Michels
Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Michels OON was a Dutch association football player and coach...
stood in front of the Dutch Royal Palace and said to the crowd: "We won the tournament, but we all know that the semi-final was the real final".
The Netherlands exploded into a mass celebration. As the Dutch team returned home they were paraded through the canals of Amsterdam
Canals of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form...
as people jumped in the water and swam towards the players to congratulate them.
Following the 1988 match, anti-German sentiment became much less prominent among the Dutch, as defeating the Germans and going on to win the cup, in Germany itself, was to many the closest they would ever come to repaying Germany. It also marked a new phase in the rivalry because with the war-related sentiment lessened on the Dutch side, the Germans now as a consequence also became far more vocal about the football rivalry, which they had avoided previously. The rivalry continued, but the tone (though still highly competitive) became less aggressive.
1988–present
In 1990 both teams met again during the second round of the World Cup1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
. This match is seen as the main catalyst for the modern German-Dutch rivalry, in which both Germany and the Netherlands enthusiastically participate.
Before kick-off the Dutch supporters shouted down the Deutschlandlied with boos and the Germans replied by chanting "Deutschland! Deutschland!" during the playing of Het Wilhelmus. The game that followed was notable for its many fouls and other incidents. After Rudi Völler
Rudi Völler
Rudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
had been hacked down by Frank Rijkaard, who was subsequently booked, Rijkaard spat in Völler's hair. After the following free kick, Völler and the Dutch keeper van Breukelen had contact, both trying to get the ball, and van Breukelen and Rijkaard shouted at Völler and Rijkaard pulled Völler's hair. The referee sent both Rijkaard and Völler off, and Rijkaard spat in Völler's hair a second time when both players left the pitch. Germany won the match 2–1 and went on to win the tournament and become World Champions.
In 1992 the Dutch beat Germany 3–1 during the group stage of the 1992 European Championship. The last competitive match between the two nations, during the group stages of the 2004 European Championship in Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, ended in a 1–1 draw. In 2011 Germany beat Holland comprehensively 3–0 in a friendly match.
Competitive record
Final, 1974 FIFA World Cup1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
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Second group stage, 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
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Group stages UEFA Euro 1980
----
Semi Final, UEFA Euro 1988
----
Second round, 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
----
Group stages UEFA Euro 1992
----
Group stages UEFA Euro 2004
In popular culture
News papers;- After the German national team was eliminated at the FIFA 2010 World Cup2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
, the German tabloid BILD published an article suggesting that Germans should now support the Dutch team (which they referred to as "Bundesrepublik Holland") because a number of Dutch players played for German clubs, mainly FC Bayern MunichFC Bayern MunichFC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
. The article was subsequently picked up by several Dutch news papers and was met with disdain and laughter, the Telegraaf opening with "When lacking own talent ..." when discussing the BILD-article.
Museums;
- The Dutch Voetbal Experience museum in MiddelburgMiddelburgMiddelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
has one of its 18 permanent exhibitions dedicated to the German-Dutch football rivalry, with tours available in Dutch as well as German and English.- A Dutch poem on the 1974 defeat called 'De moeder aller nederlagen' can be found on the museum wall. The last line reads `Wij waren de beste, maar zij waren beter´ ('We were the best, but they were better').
In television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
;
- In the 2006 World Cup documentary Deutschland. Ein SommermärchenDeutschland. Ein SommermärchenDeutschland. Ein Sommermärchen, or Germany. A summer's tale is a 2006 documentary film, written, filmed and directed by Sönke Wortmann. The film records German national football team's World Cup 2006 journey, all the way from boot camp in Sardinia to the 3rd-place play-off with Portugal. The title...
, the early elimination of the Dutch team is illustrated by showing an Autobahn sign "Netherlands, exit right".
- In an episode of the Dutch history series Andere Tijden on the 1988 European Championship, which the Dutch won, a shot can be seen of an overpassOverpassAn overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
near the Dutch-German border which reads, in GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, "You are now entering the country of the European Champions".
- In a 2010 episode of Voetbal Insite, a Dutch football show, a clip is shown in which people are being interviewed on the streets and asked what they think the Dutch team should do in order to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
. After a while a (Dutch) man is shown who happily declares his "complete support" for the German national team, after which the clip stops and the presenters of the show are shown laughing uncontrolably.
During the 1990s
1990s
File:1990s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: The Hubble Space Telescope floats in space after it was taken up in 1990; American F-16s and F-15s fly over burning oil fields and the USA Lexie in Operation Desert Storm, also known as the 1991 Gulf War; The signing of the Oslo Accords on...
and 2000s a lot of adverts appeared, at first on Dutch television later also on German networks, which referenced the Dutch-German football rivalry. Including;
- A Sport SelectSport SelectSport Select is to a group of sports betting games offered by Canada's provincial governments. In Quebec, the program is known as Pari sportif, in Ontario and Atlantic Canada it is known as Pro-Line while in British Columbia, it is known as Sports Action. However, the rules for the games are...
ad, in which a Dutch couple in a caravan overtakes an elderly German woman on the German Autobahn, after which both cars start ramming each other.
- A HeinekenHeinekenHeineken is a Dutch beer which has been brewed by Heineken International since 1873. It is available in a 4.6% alcohol variety in countries such as Ireland. It is the flagship product of the Heineken company and is made of purified water, malted barley, hops, and yeast. In 1886 H...
ad, in which a mock press conference is given by a German official who presents the 'ultimate weapon' against a string of Dutch fan ware.
- A NUONVattenfallVattenfall is a Swedish power company. The name Vattenfall is Swedish for waterfall, and is an abbreviation of its original name, Royal Waterfall Board...
ad, in which a Dutch fan accidentally spills his drink on a German fan, ruining his T-shirt. The Dutch fan then offers his own (black) shirt to the German as a compensation, which the German fan accepts. During the match the German is cheering violently, turning his shirt (being sentitive to body heat) orangeOrange (colour)The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The...
.
- A Histor (Dutch paint brand) ad, in which a British 'wall whisperer' (Barrie Hall) concludes that the walls in the South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n 2010 FIFA World Cup2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
stadiums (all painted orange) are 'happy'. As he leaves it is revealed the room painted belongs to the German National Team.
- A Sportwetten (German betting site) ad, in which a German and a Dutch fan walk past each other and the German fan spits in the Dutchmans hair. This was based on the notorious attack on Rudi VollerRudi VöllerRudolf 'Rudi' Völler is a German former international football striker, and a former manager of the German national team...
by Frank RijkaardFrank RijkaardFranklin Edmundo Rijkaard is a Dutch football manager of Dutch and Surinamese descent and former player. Rijkaard has played for Ajax, Real Zaragoza and Milan, and represented his national side 73 times, scoring 10 goals. In his coaching career, he has been at the helm of the Dutch national side,...
at the 1990 World Cup.
- In 2000, a Dutch TV commercial, in reference to the infamous spitting incident, shows Voller and Rijkaard both wearing bathrobes, having breakfast together, suggesting the taste of butterButterButter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
is so good it gets the worlds most bitter rivals together. Rijkaard later declared in an interview that both he and Voller decided to be part of the commercial considering 10 years had passed since the incident and it was time to bury the hatchet.
- A BoschRobert Bosch GmbHRobert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
ad, in which a German couple is overtaken by a car full of Dutch fans who mock him. The German keeps up with the Dutch car, but then suddenly breaks off. The Dutch fans celebrate only to be caught in a speed trapSpeed limit enforcementSpeed limit enforcement is the action taken by appropriately empowered authorities to check that road vehicles are complying with the speed limit in force on roads and highways. Methods used include roadside speed traps set up and operated by the police and automated roadside 'speed camera'...
.
A number of novelty songs have also been written, these include;
- "Wir sind die Höllender" by De ToppersDe Toppers- History :The group was formed in 2005 by Dutch singers Gordon, René Froger and Gerard Joling. In 2008, Joling was replaced by Jeroen van der Boom....
. A 2006 song, sung partly in mock German.
- "Orange trägt nur die Müllabfuhr" by Mickie Krause. A 2008 song, the title of which means "only the garbage collectorWaste collectorA waste collector is a person employed by a public or private enterprise to collect and remove refuse and recyclables from residential, commercial, industrial or other collection site for further processing and disposal...
wears orange" in German, orange being the Dutch national colour. Waste collectors in the largest cities of Germany (such as Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt) do typically wear fluorescent orange overalls. However the insult is largely lost in translation as in the Netherlands garbage men wear yellow.
- "Holland" by Joint Venture. A 2002 song, about a singer who likes the Netherlands, the Dutch, and Dutch culture except when it comes to football.
- "Ohne Holland fahr'n wir zur WM" by the German band Orange Buh. A 2002 song about the Netherlands not passing World-Cup qualification. The text means "Without Holland we're joining the World Cup".
- "Schade, Deutschland, alles ist vorbei," meaning "Pity, Germany, it's all over," sang by Dutch fans after the Dutch team had reached the quarterfinals at the expense of the Germans at Euro 2004.
On both sides, there are many jokes about the opponent periodically told on the occasion of matches between Germany and the Netherlands.
- "Why do Dutch people born after 1974 have long ears?" - "Because when they were small, their parents would lift them over the border fence and whisper: 'That's the country of the world champions!'"
- "A Dutchman, a German and an African are waiting in front of a delivery room. The doctor comes out and says: 'The good news is that all three babies are well; the bad news is we kinda mixed them up!' Immediately, the German runs into the room, takes the black baby and runs outside again. The African asks him: 'Don't you think that this one should be mine?' He says: 'I don't even care, as long as I just don't get that Dutch one.'"