Following an unbeaten Nations League group stage campaign, the Netherlands are set to meet Croatia in the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Louis van Gaal inspired the Oranje to an eye-catching five wins and a draw in six group fixtures, leading them to a top-place finish in Group A/4 ahead of Belgium, Poland and Wales.
Since the veteran manager left the post after a quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it’ll be up to new boss Ronald Koeman to finish what his predecessor started.
Koeman has experienced mixed fortunes in his first two internationals in charge of the Netherlands, losing 4-0 to France on his touchline debut before overcoming continental minnows Gibraltar 3-0 last time out.
His side will have to do far better than that if they’re to set up another Nations League final after a 1-0 defeat to Portugal in the inaugural 2018/19 campaign and take home their first trophy since 1988.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, who was one of the main characters in that showpiece, is poised for a different outcome this time around, calling on his teammates to make amends for that heartbreak.
“We’re playing for a cup, that’s important – the energy level must be set at high this time,” he said, as relayed by France24.
“During the first edition, we may not have fully realised that we were playing for a cup. That only came after the lost final.
“Of course, we have to perform better as a team. I want to lift this cup – I want to be number one.
“But we play Croatia – it’s difficult to beat them.”
It will be only the third-ever meeting between the Netherlands and Croatia, with both sides recording one win from their previous encounters.
After a 2-1 loss in the 1998 World Cup third-place play-off, the Oranje cruised to a 3-0 friendly victory in 2008, but Wednesday’s showdown won’t be a walk in the park by any stretch of the imagination.
Spain and Italy face each other in the other semi-final on Thursday.
