Netherlands national under-21 football team
Encyclopedia
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands
and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association
. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship
, held every two years.
Following the realignment of UEFA
's youth competitions in 1976, the Dutch Under-21 team was formed. The team did not have a very good record, failing to qualify for nine of the fifteen tournaments. The team did not enter for the 1978 competition, but since then has reached the semi-finals twice, and qualified for the last eight on three other occasions.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, the Netherlands' record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown. The first competitive match was in the "Under-23 Challenge", a match which they lost. The team qualified for the last eight of each of the three U-23 tournaments.
In 2006 the Netherlands national under-21 football team of coach Foppe de Haan
won the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar became top scorer and player of the tournament with four goals, and also broke the all-time goalscoring record of 15 goals previously held by Roy Makaay
and Arnold Jan Bruggink, in his last match with the team as he pushed this record to 18 goals. The following year, Netherlands national under-21 football team successfully defended their title by winning the 2007 European Under-21 Championship
in the final against Serbia
with 4–1. Maceo Rigters
was the top scorer of the competition with four goals and Royston Drenthe
was the Player of the Tournament. The win meant that the Netherlands qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. The team failed to qualify for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship
, after losing out to Switzerland
in their final qualifying match.
for the title in a one-off match in Sofia
, which the Netherlands lost.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association
Royal Dutch Football Association
The Royal Dutch Football Association is the governing body of football in the Netherlands. It organises the main Dutch football leagues , the amateur leagues, the KNVB Cup, and the Dutch national football team. It is based in the municipality of Zeist.The KNVB came into being on 8 December 1889...
. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
, held every two years.
Following the realignment of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's youth competitions in 1976, the Dutch Under-21 team was formed. The team did not have a very good record, failing to qualify for nine of the fifteen tournaments. The team did not enter for the 1978 competition, but since then has reached the semi-finals twice, and qualified for the last eight on three other occasions.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, the Netherlands' record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown. The first competitive match was in the "Under-23 Challenge", a match which they lost. The team qualified for the last eight of each of the three U-23 tournaments.
In 2006 the Netherlands national under-21 football team of coach Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan OON is a Dutch football coach. He is known for his long association with Frisian club SC Heerenveen. De Haan is currently manager of the Tuvalu national football team.-Career:...
won the 2006 European Under-21 Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Klaas Jan Huntelaar3 goals Thomas Kahlenberg Nicky Hofs2 goals Bryan Bergougnoux Ruslan Fomin Artem Milevskiy...
. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar became top scorer and player of the tournament with four goals, and also broke the all-time goalscoring record of 15 goals previously held by Roy Makaay
Roy Makaay
Rudolphus "Roy" Antonius Makaay is a retired Dutch footballer. While playing for Bayern Munich he picked up the nickname Das Phantom , for his ability to score out of nowhere.-Career:...
and Arnold Jan Bruggink, in his last match with the team as he pushed this record to 18 goals. The following year, Netherlands national under-21 football team successfully defended their title by winning the 2007 European Under-21 Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
in the final against Serbia
Serbia national under-21 football team
The Serbia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
with 4–1. Maceo Rigters
Maceo Rigters
Maceo Rigters is a Dutch footballer, who currently plays for Gold Coast United in the Australian A-League. His previous clubs include Heerenveen, Dordrecht, NAC Breda and Blackburn Rovers...
was the top scorer of the competition with four goals and Royston Drenthe
Royston Drenthe
Royston Rickie Drenthe is a Dutch footballer who plays for Everton on loan from Real Madrid.Mainly a midfielder, and regarded as one of football's fastest players, he can also operate as a defender or forward, but always on the left side of the pitch.-Youth:Born in Rotterdam, Drenthe joined local...
was the Player of the Tournament. The win meant that the Netherlands qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. The team failed to qualify for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship
2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship began on 15 June 2009, and was the 17th UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. This was the first tournament after the competition reverted to a two-year format, following the single-year 2006-07 competition, which allowed the change to...
, after losing out to Switzerland
Switzerland national under-21 football team
The Switzerland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Switzerland and is controlled by the Swiss Football Association...
in their final qualifying match.
UEFA U-23 Championship record
The Netherlands were randomly chosen to play cards BulgariaBulgaria national under-21 football team
The Bulgaria national under-21 football team represents the under-21 football team of Bulgaria and is controlled by the Bulgarian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years....
for the title in a one-off match in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, which the Netherlands lost.
- 17 April 1968: Bulgaria 3–1 Netherlands.
- 1972: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1974: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1976: Losing semi-finalists.
UEFA U-21 Championship Record
- 1978: Did not enter.
- 1980: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1982: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1984: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 3 in qualification group.
- 1986: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 4 in qualification group.
- 1988: Losing semi-finalists.
- 1990: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 4 in qualification group.
- 1992: Losing quarter-finalists.
- 1994: Did not qualify. Finished 5th of 6 in qualification group.
- 1996: Did not qualify. Finished 3rd of 6 in qualification group.
- 1998: Fourth.
- 2000: Finished 3rd of 4 in finals group. Joint fifth.
- 2002: Lost in playoff.
- 2004: Did not qualify. Finished 4th of 5 in qualification group.
- 2006: Winners
- 2007: Winners
- 2009: Did not qualify. Finished 2nd of 5 in qualification group.
- 2011: Lost in Playoff against Ukraine.
Notable players
- Jo BonfrereJo BonfrereJohannes Bonfrere or Jo Bonfrere is a Dutch football coach, and a former striker, who played for MVV Maastricht and K.F.C. Germinal Beerschot. He is currently the manager of Henan Construction F.C...
- Roy MakaayRoy MakaayRudolphus "Roy" Antonius Makaay is a retired Dutch footballer. While playing for Bayern Munich he picked up the nickname Das Phantom , for his ability to score out of nowhere.-Career:...
- Arnold BrugginkArnold BrugginkArnold Jan Bruggink is a former Dutch striker and occasional midfielder.He won the Dutch Talent of the Year award in 2000 while playing for PSV Eindhoven and won three league titles and two Supercups with the club, as well as appearing in the UEFA Champions League...
- Wilfred BoumaWilfred BoumaWilfred Bouma is a Dutch footballer who plays for PSV Eindhoven. Bouma is a technically refined left back/centre back who is known for his hard working nature, defensive positioning and tackling ability.-Early career:...
- Peter WisgerhofPeter WisgerhofPeter Wisgerhof is a Dutch footballer who plays as a central defender for Eredivisie club FC Twente.- Club career :...
- Victor SikoraVictor SikoraVictor Tadeusz Sikora is a Dutch football player who plays for Perth Glory in the Australian A-League.-Biography:His hobbies include golf and deep sea fishing....
- Mark van BommelMark van BommelMark Peter Gertruda Andreas van Bommel is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Milan and captains the Netherlands national team as a midfielder....
- Jan Vennegoor of HesselinkJan Vennegoor of HesselinkJan Johannes Vennegoor of Hesselink is a Dutch footballer, currently playing for PSV Eindhoven. He formerly played for the Netherlands national team as a striker...
- Dirk KuytDirk KuytDirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
- Kenneth VermeerKenneth VermeerKenneth Vermeer is a Dutch footballer who plays goalkeeper for AFC Ajax. He has been capped for the Netherlands U-21 team but has so far failed to break into the national team.- Career :...
- Gijs LuirinkGijs LuirinkGijs Luirink is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for the Sparta Rotterdam. He is a former Dutch under-21 international.- Career :...
- Nicky HofsNicky HofsNicky Hofs is a Dutch football midfielder, who plays for Vitesse of the Dutch Eredivisie. It is Hofs' 3rd stint with the Arnhem-based football club.- Career overview :...
- Stijn SchaarsStijn SchaarsStefanus Johannes "Stijn" Schaars is a Dutch footballer who currently plays in the Portuguese Liga for Sporting Clube de Portugal and the Netherlands national team as a midfielder.-Club career:...
- Urby EmanuelsonUrby EmanuelsonUrby Vitorrio Diego Emanuelson is a Dutch footballer of Surinamese descent, who plays for Serie A club Milan. He plays as either a left midfielder or left back. Despite playing as a defender, he is best known for attacking attributes such as pace and dribbling.- AFC Ajax :Emanuelson is a product...
- Romeo CastelenRomeo CastelenRomeo Castelen is a Dutch footballer who plays for Hamburger SV in Germany, as a right winger.-Den Haag:Castelen started his professional career with ADO Den Haag, playing two full seasons in the second division...
- Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
- Robin van PersieRobin van PersieRobin van Persie is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011...
- Boy WatermanBoy WatermanBoy Waterman is a Dutch football goalkeeper who currently plays for Alemannia Aachen.He was part of the Dutch Under-21 team to win the 2007 Under-21 European Football Championship.- Club career :...
- Ron VlaarRon VlaarRon Peter Vlaar is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.Vlaar made his professional debut at the age of 20 for the club AZ...
- Ryan DonkRyan DonkRyan Donk is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Club Brugge.-Club career:Ryan Donk had an outstanding 2005–06 season at RKC Waalwijk, and with an expiring contract, he wanted to make a step up to a higher level. AZ first approached him, AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and even Spanish giants FC...
- Gianni ZuiverloonGianni ZuiverloonGianni Michel Eugene Zuiverloon is a Dutch footballer currently playing for Spanish La Liga outfit Mallorca as a right back.-Club career:...
- Hedwiges MaduroHedwiges MaduroHedwiges Martinez-Maduro is a Dutch footballer who plays for Valencia CF in Spain.Mainly a central defender, he can also operate as a defensive midfielder, where he started his career at Ajax Amsterdam.-Ajax:...
- Otman BakkalOtman BakkalOtman Bakkal is a Dutch international footballer of Moroccan origin who plays professionally for PSV as an attacking midfielder. He is currently on loan to Feyenoord.-Club career:...
- Maceo RigtersMaceo RigtersMaceo Rigters is a Dutch footballer, who currently plays for Gold Coast United in the Australian A-League. His previous clubs include Heerenveen, Dordrecht, NAC Breda and Blackburn Rovers...
- Ryan BabelRyan BabelRyan Guno Babel is a Dutch football player who currently plays for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. He can play as a left winger and as a striker. Babel began his career at AFC Ajax in 1998, working his way up through the youth team and into the senior squad...
- Royston DrentheRoyston DrentheRoyston Rickie Drenthe is a Dutch footballer who plays for Everton on loan from Real Madrid.Mainly a midfielder, and regarded as one of football's fastest players, he can also operate as a defender or forward, but always on the left side of the pitch.-Youth:Born in Rotterdam, Drenthe joined local...
- Tim KrulTim KrulTimothy Michael "Tim" Krul is a Dutch footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Netherlands national team.-Newcastle United:...
- Erik PietersErik PietersErik Pieters is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for PSV Eindhoven and the Dutch national team as a left back. He made his professional debut for FC Utrecht before moving to PSV after two seasons in the first team.-Youth:...
Current squad
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team in the last 6 months.See also
- Netherlands national football teamNetherlands national football teamThe 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...
- Netherlands national under-19 football teamNetherlands national under-19 football teamThe Netherlands national under-19 football team represents the Netherlands at this age level and is governed by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond — KNVB...
- Netherlands national under-17 football teamNetherlands national under-17 football teamThe Netherlands national under-17 football team represents Netherlands in international football at this age level and is controlled by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond — KNVB, the governing body for football in Netherlands...
- UEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipUEFA European Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
Sources/External links
- UEFA Under-21 website Contains full results archive
- The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation Contains full record of U-21/U-23 Championships.
- Official KNVB U-21 site in Dutch