Louis van Gaal has picked his  squad ahead of the WC-qualifier against Romania (March 26). Goal: Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma), Kenneth Vermeer (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Swansea City). Defence: Daley Blind (Ajax), Mike van der Hoorn (FC Utrecht), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Joris Mathijsen...

According to newspaper ‘De Telegraaf’, there is still no place for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Dirk Kuyt or Joris Mathijsen in tonight’s line-up for the second WC-qualifier in Hungary. Nothing official, but reporters conclude this from the training sessions this week. Tim Krul is...

The 4-2 defeat to Belgium yesterday brings the Dutch on a poinless streak of four-in-a-row including the Euro 2012 disaster. Since turning professional in 1954 the national team has not been on such a bad run. In fact, that lowpoint left the Dutch FA no choice than reform the league and allow...

In 1905 Belgium were the first official opponents for the Dutch national team and for a long time, this was the only friendly that mattered. The teams used to meet twice per season in much anticipated and heavily contested encounters. There was never a clear favorite. With the increasing...

With more than 24 hours to go Louis van Gaal has already revealed his team for the Derby against Belgium. He could not resist picking Ajax-reserve Ricardo van Rijn in the team, while his preference of Huntelaar over Van Persie is interesting as well. Match fitness may be the key here. Starting...

This weekend we were told that the friendly between Belgium and Holland in Brussels has been sold out already. The hosts smell blood, that is for sure. Their own national team is on the rise, while the northern neighbours need to find a new coach, a new staff and possible a revamped squad. In...

A few weeks before winning the Dutch title with AZ I interviewed Louis van Gaal for Champions Magazine.   He won the UEFA Cup in his first full year as headcoach, but Europe might never have heard of Louis van Gaal if Dennis Bergkamp had not scored on a novembernight in Spain. But he did,...

Ajax shirt sponsor AEGON threw the gauntlet yesterday by letting Louis van Gaal congratulate Johan Cruyff in an add in newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. The Dutch insurance firm says Cruyff was asked beforehand and agreed in the publication. Part of the stunt is to built a new Cruyff Court, a...