KNVB: Where Has the Dutch Football Identity Gone?
As a sports enthusiast, it's naturally disappointing to watch a World Cup where the Netherlands is eliminated prematurely. As always, the discussion quickly erupts: the national coach should have made different choices, the tactics were wrong, substitutions should have been made earlier. After all, in the Netherlands, we have eighteen million national coaches. But perhaps we're having the wrong discussion.
The Guardian of Dutch Football
The question isn't just what the national coach did, but primarily what mandate they received from the KNVB. The KNVB is not solely responsible for appointing a national coach. It is the guardian of Dutch football. It is supposed to uphold the long-term vision and, with it, the football identity for which the Netherlands is renowned worldwide. And precisely there lies the rub.
Is it bad that Oranje leaves a World Cup early? Of course. But perhaps it's even worse that Oranje lost with a playing style that had little to do with traditional Dutch football.
Losing Our Identity
The Netherlands was globally admired for attacking football, daring, initiative, and ball possession. Not because it was always successful, but because it was a recognizable identity: attacking, Total Football. Johan Cruyff once said: “If we have the ball, they can’t score.” That was more than a tactic; it was a conviction. Watching the Netherlands-Morocco match, I noted that we usually didn't have the ball.
The Oranje Brand
During a World Cup, Oranje represents much more than just a team. The whole world watches. Millions are invested in the image of the Netherlands. Everyone knows the Oranje supporters, the celebrating crowds, the unique atmosphere, and the recognizable football culture. That is the Oranje brand. But a brand doesn't just consist of supporters and marketing campaigns. A brand also consists of behavior, character, recognizability. And precisely that character seemed to have disappeared.
Who Is Responsible?
The most disappointing aspect of this World Cup, therefore, might not even be the elimination. The most disappointing thing is that the Netherlands lost without playing recognizably Dutch football. That is not just the responsibility of the national coach; it is primarily the responsibility of the KNVB. Because if a national coach is given the freedom to completely abandon the Dutch football identity, that is not an incident. That is policy.
The Core Question
And that's precisely what the discussion should be about. What does the KNVB actually stand for? Is there still a long-term vision for Dutch football? Or is every national coach allowed to bring their own football philosophy, resulting in the national team having a different identity under each coach? If the latter is the case, then it's not just the team that's drifting, but also the policy.
A national football identity is not built around one national coach. It is built over generations. It must remain recognizable, regardless of who is standing on the sidelines.
A Choice
Losing is part of elite sports. But giving up your own identity is a choice. And it is precisely that choice that the KNVB should hold itself accountable for. The whole world watches thousands of Oranje supporters sing at the top of their lungs: “to the left, to the right.” Perhaps that is now the best description of the KNVB's policy, too.