Netherland's Last World Cup XI. Where are they now?

The Netherlands are back in the World Cup. Following their failure to qualify for Euro 2016, they also failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Finishing third in their group, behind France who qualified as group winners and Sweden, who finished in the playoff spot with a superior goal difference. They have had a clear road to recovery firstly under Ronald Koeman and now under Louis van Gaal. For van Gaal, this will be his second World Cup with a good crop of players like Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Cody Gakpo. They have big shoes to fill as Oranje reached the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup losing to Argentina on penalties. Let's take a look at their last starting team from the 2014 World Cup. Which was a 3-0 win over Brazil in the third-place playoff.

GOALKEEPER: JASPER CILLESSEN

The Netherlands' starting goalkeeper over the tournament, Jasper Cillessen conceded four goals, with only one goal coming in the knockout stages. Despite being Netherland's starting goalkeeper throughout his career, Cillessen has never been a starting keeper over his club career, bar his time at Ajax, where he made 143 appearances for the Eredivisie champions over six seasons. He went to Spain in 2016, signing for Barcelona. His game time greatly diminished as he played back-up to starting keeper Marc Andre ter Stegen. Making only five league appearances for Barcelona in three seasons, he departed for Valencia for game time, playing 57 times in three seasons at the Mestalla. However, his time at Valencia was hampered by injuries, affecting his availability. He has returned to the Eredivisie playing for NEC Nijmegen. He's one of the key players from the 2014 World Cup squad that is still around but has competition now in Mark Flekken of Freiburg and Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer. 

CENTRAL DEFENDER: STEFAN DE VRIJ

Another player from the 2014 squad that is still around, Stefan de Vrij was only 22 years old when the 2014 World Cup happened and had a breakout tournament, including scoring against Spain in the Netherlands' famous 5-1 victory. Starting his career at Feyenoord, de Vrij made 154 total appearances before heading for Italy in 2014. After the World Cup, he moved to Lazio and spent four seasons at the Stadio Olimpico before moving to Inter Milan on a free transfer. Since moving to Milan, de Vrij has been everpresent for the Nerazzurri, making 173 appearances. He won Serie A with Inter in 2021 and the Coppa Italia last season. Now at 30 and over 500 appearances over his career, depending on van Gaal's setup, de Vrij is likely to be on the plane to Qatar and be a starter for this tournament, having been capped 58 times.

CENTRAL DEFENDER: RON VLAAR

The experienced head of the back three at 29, Ron Vlaar only had four caps in 2010 when he made his first international appearance in 2005. After 2010, he became a starter for Oranje and was called up for the World Cup in 2014 as well as Euro 2012. Vlaar was a regular in the Eredivisie, playing for AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, where he won the KNVB Cup in 2008. He joined Aston Villa in 2012 and spent three years at Villa Park before returning to Holland with AZ Alkmaar. The 2014 World Cup proved to be his final appearance as he retired from international football after that. He spent his final playing career with AZ and retired from football in 2021, having struggled with injuries in his final season.

CENTRAL DEFENDER: BRUNO MARTINS INDI

Like de Vrij, the 2014 World Cup was a breakout tournament for Bruno Martins Indi, having made his international debut in 2012. However, Martins Indi has not had the success that de Vrij enjoyed. Born in Portugal to parents from Guniea-Bissau, Martins Indi moved to the Netherlands at a very young age and started his career with Feyenoord, making 120 appearances. After the World Cup, he moved to FC Porto and spent two years there before going to the Premier League, signing for Stoke City on loan before it became a permanent move in 2017. He stayed on with Stoke City following their relegation in 2018. After failed promotion attempts, he returned to the Netherlands to sign for AZ Alkmaar on loan in 2020 before moving permanently a year later. This has affected his career with the Netherlands, only making ten appearances for Oranje since 2014, even failing to get a call-up between 2018 and 2021.

WING-BACK: DALEY BLIND

Son of former Ajax defender of the 1990s and former Netherlands manager Danny Blind, Daley Blind has had a successful playing career in his own right. Like his father, Daley Blind started off his career at Ajax, making 143 appearances in his first spell and winning four Eredivisie titles. After the 2014 World Cup, he followed Louis van Gaal to Manchester United. He was used as somewhat of a utility man under van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, playing in defence and midfield. He won four trophies during his time in England and made 141 appearances. He returned to Ajax in 2018 and is now one of the experienced heads at the Johan Cruyff Arena, winning three more Eredivisie titles. Primarily a centre-back, he was deployed at left wing-back throughout the tournament. It was a success with his main highlight being his pass for Robin van Persie in the 5-1 win over Spain. He has won ninety-three caps, scoring twice. 

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: JORDY CLASIE

Also one of the youngest players in the squad, Jordy Clasie played only two games in the tournament, playing as a backup for the likes of Nigel de Jong and Leroy Fer. Coming up the ranks from Feyenoord, he played 155 games before moving to Southampton in 2015. He rarely found a starting role at St. Mary's, playing 49 games in two seasons. He went on loan to Belgian side Club Brugge in 2017, winning the Belgian Pro League that season. Since then, he has returned to the Eredivisie, playing for AZ Alkmaar. He made his debut for the Netherlands in 2012 and as mentioned, was part of the Dutch World Cup squad. Since then, he has rarely been in the Dutch set-up and has not made played for Oranje since 2016.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: JONATHAN DE GUZMAN

Capable of playing behind the striker, Jonathan de Guzman has had a nomadic career, playing for ten clubs across six countries. Born in Canada to a Filipino father and a Jamaican mother, de Guzman moved to the Netherlands at the age of 10 to pursue a playing career. He started his playing career at Feyenoord, making 130 appearances and winning the KNVB Cup. He moved to Spain, signing for Mallorca in 2010, spending one full season before moving again. He went to Villarreal but barely got game time, playing only 19 times in La Liga for Villarreal. He moved to England and signed for Swansea City on a two-year loan deal, making 93 appearances and winning the League Cup. He went to Italy, signing for Napoli but spent only one season before going on loan to Chievo and Capri. He spent three seasons in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt, winning the DFB-Pokal in 2018. He moved to Greece, signing for OFI Crete in 2020 but returning to the Netherlands, signing for Sparta Rotterdam. He has 14 caps for the Netherlands.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM

Scoring in the third-place playoff, Georginio Wijnaldum has had a very successful playing career for both club and country. Starting off his career at Feyenoord, making 135 appearances before moving to PSV Eindhoven in 2011, where he made 154 appearances, winning the Eredivisie in his final season in 2015. He moved to England to sign for Newcastle United, scoring 11 goals in 38 goals in the Premier League but Newcastle was relegated. After one season with Newcastle, he signed for Liverpool, where he had the best period of his career. He made 237 appearances throughout his time at Anfield, winning four trophies including the Champions League and Premier League. He left in 2021 to sign for French side PSG but is currently on loan at AS Roma. However, he is recovering from a tibia fracture injury. His injury more likely rules him out of the upcoming World Cup, which is a shame as he is one of the most experienced players during their period of recovery, as he has 86 caps, scoring 26 times. Only Memphis Depay has scored more than Wijnaldum for Dutch internationals that are currently active.

WING-BACK: DIRK KUYT

A striker in his younger years, a wide-forward at Liverpool, Dirk Kuyt was very versatile throughout his playing career, that he was deployed as a wing-back throughout the 2014 World Cup. Capped 104 times, Kuyt scored 24 goals over ten years from 2004 to 2014, including playing in the World Cup Final in 2010. Starting off his career at Utrecht, he scored 66 goals in 184 games, winning the KNVB Cup in 2003. He moved to Feyenoord that year, where his goal-scoring exploits continued, scoring 83 goals in 122 games. Winning the Eredivisie Golden Boot in 2005 and Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2006. He moved to Liverpool that year and spent six years in Anfield, deployed more as a right-winger and was more selfless. Durable and blessed with high stamina, Kuyt scored 71 times in 286 games, winning the League Cup in his final season. He moved to Fenerbahce, winning three trophies before ending his career at Feyenoord, scoring a hat-trick in his final Eredivisie game to win Feyenoord the league title in 2017. He retired that season and is currently the manager of  ADO Den Haag in the Dutch Second division.

STRIKER: ROBIN VAN PERSIE

Netherlands' all-time leading scorer with 50 goals in 102 caps, Robin van Persie was captain of the Netherlands team and scored three goals in the tournament including a famous flying header against Spain in the group stage. Breaking out from the youth ranks in Feyenoord, he left for England, where he will spend the majority of his playing career, firstly with Arsenal. He spent eight years in North London, playing a total of 278 games and scoring 132 goals. A powerful striker of the ball, particularly from his left, van Persie often struggled, sustaining multiple injuries throughout his career but his 2011/12 season was the Dutchman at his best, scoring 30 Premier League goals in 38 games, winning the Golden Boot and PFA Player of the Year. He left Arsenal acrimoniously for Manchester United, retaining the Golden Boot with 26 goals and winning the Premier League. He spent two more seasons with United before leaving for Turkey to play for Fenerbache. After three seasons in Turkey, he returned to Feyenoord to play out the final years of his career, retiring in 2019, at the age of 35. He played in five tournaments across his career for Oranje, scoring eight times across the World Cup and Euros, with the 2010 World Cup the closest he and Holland got to international glory. He's currently assistant manager at Feyenoord.

STRIKER: ARJEN ROBBEN

Utilized as a support striker for the tournament under van Gaal, Arjen Robben was one of the most feared wingers of his generation, winning league titles in the Eredivisie, Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga. A graduate of the youth system at FC Groningen, Robben got wider attention with PSV, winning the Eredivisie before signing for Chelsea. He played 106 games at Stamford Bridge, winning two league titles before going to Madrid, where he won La Liga but spent two years before moving to Germany to sign for Bayern Munich in 2009. He spent ten years in Bavaria, winning multiple Bundesliga titles and winning the Champions League in 2013. Quick and very crafty, Robben won 96 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 37 times. He tore through Spain's defence in their 5-1 win and gained notoriety with Mexico, winning a penalty in the knockout tie against Mexico, which Mexican believe he dived inside the box. This will turn out to be Robben's last tournament as the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2016 Euros and the 2018 World Cup which prompted Robben's retirement from international football in 2017. He retired completely from football in 2021.