Netherlands
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Article summary
Having reached the elite round every year bar one since 2001/02 and lost out on goal difference 12 months ago, the Netherlands finally qualified for the first time with an impressive unbeaten record.
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The Netherlands have reached the UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round every year bar one since the competition's inception in 2001/02 but have never before made it through to the final tournament, losing out on goal difference to Slovenia in 2008/09. Wim van Zwam's side ended the wait in considerable style, however, qualifying unbeaten – winning five of their six matches – and booking their place in France with a 3-0 dismantling of 2008 champions Germany.
Qualifying round: Malta 1-0, Cyprus 5-1, Czech Republic 1-0 (Group 10 winners)
Elite round: Slovakia 0-0, Poland 2-0, Germany 3-0 (Group 6 winners)
Key players
Rick van Haaren (midfielder, Feyenoord), Jerson Cabral (forward, Feyenoord), Luc Castaignos (forward, Feyenoord)
Coach: Wim van Zwam
Date of Birth: 30 October 1956
Nationality: Dutch
Playing career: FC Wageningen, vv Bennekom, vv Nieuw-Lekkerland
Coaching career: Honselersdijk, GVVV, Kvv Quick Boys, SV ARC, UVS, vv Katwijk, FC Oss, Netherlands Under-15, Netherlands U19, Netherlands U20
A midfielder during his playing days, Van Zwam enjoyed two seasons as a professional at Wageningen between 1975 and 1977 before concluding his career with spells at amateur clubs Bennekom and Nieuw-Lekkerland. He moved into coaching and had spells at a number of amateur teams between 1985 and 2000, guiding Quick Boys to the Dutch amateur title in 1992 and repeating the feat with Katwijk eight years later.
Van Zwam promptly moved back into the professional game at Oss, leading the club to a solid mid-table finish in the second tier in 2000/01. They finished bottom a year later, however, and in 2002 Van Zwam joined the Royal Netherlands Football Association. He has since worked with the Under-15, U19 and U20 national sides, also taking charge of the Olympic team and teaching at the KNVB coaching academy.
Team records
Qualifying top scorer
Rick van Haaren, Luc Castaignos: 2
UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Never previously qualified
Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Fourth place 1994, 1995
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runners-up 2005, 2009
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Third place 2000
International Youth Tournament (U18)
Runners-up: 1948, 1949, 1970
Other honours
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Third place 2005