2010 World Cup Semi-Final – Netherlands 2–3 Germany (Johannesburg)

Lore & Background

After losing two consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, the team had their longest World Cup appearance streak in the 1990s, reaching three straight tournaments. In 1990, two years after winning the 1988 European Championship, the Dutch went out in the round of 16, defeated by West Germany. In 1994, the Netherlands was eliminated by Brazil in the quarter-finals, and in 1998 lost to Brazil in the semi-finals and Croatia in the match for third place.

The Dutch returned in 2006, being eliminated by Portugal in the round of 16, a game known as the Battle of Nuremberg. In 2010, the team reached their third World Cup final, this time losing to Spain after extra time. The Dutch avenged this loss during the first match of the following 2014 World Cup, routing the Spanish 5–1, and eventually going on to record their first third-place finish. After missing the 2018 tournament, they returned in 2022, being eliminated in the quarter-final stage. In the following 2026 tournament, the Dutch had their worst ever finish, losing in the round of 32.

Reader's Guide

The Netherlands have never lost a World Cup match in regular time by more than one goal, and have not officially lost a match since the 2010 final, as their 2014, 2022, and 2026 campaigns all ended in defeat by way of penalty shoot-out, with the former two eliminations being to Argentina.