Netherlands are back at the World Cup after missing the 2018 edition and head coach Louis van Gaal will be confident they can spring a surprise and go far.
The Dutch have made it to three World Cup finals in the past, but have yet to lift the coveted trophy as they have fallen at the final hurdle each time.
Could this be the time they finally leave that pain behind and go all the way?
They will have to deal with the likes of hosts Qatar, Ecuador and Senegal in the group stages first if they are to do that, before locking horns with the big guns further down the line.
The 2010 finalists might not have the quality that teams like Brazil and France possess, but there’s certainly some exciting talent in the Dutch squad!
Which 26 players would you pick from the 39 players in Van Gaal’s provisional squad to make the trip to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
GettyGOALKEEPERS
Arguably the weakest link of the Dutch squad.
Justin Bijlow (pictured) seemed to be sitting in pole position to wear the No.1 jersey, but his injury proneness and recent underwhelming form means Van Gaal has been exploring other options recently.
Jasper Cillessen has the reputation, but didn’t quite make it at Barcelona or Valencia and now finds himself back in the Eredivisie at his boyhood club NEC.
Remko Pasveer got the nod during the September international break, but hasn’t been in great form for Ajax either.
Not an easy decision for Van Gaal to pick three or four quality shot stoppers from this list.
Name Club Justin Bijlow Feyenoord Jasper Cillessen NEC Mark Flekken Freiburg Remko Pasveer Ajax Andries Noppert Heerenveen - Getty Images
DEFENDERS
Netherlands have traditionally not been spoilt for choice at the back, but the current group of players seems to have most of its high-profile names acting in defence.
There’s Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool, Matthijs de Ligt at Bayern Munich, Nathan Ake at Manchester City, Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries at Inter and Tyrell Malacia at Manchester United.
And that’s not even taken into account the next generation coming through.
Jurrien Timber snubbed a move to Man Utd in favour of a prolonged stay at Ajax and is arguably one of the best young defenders around in the game.
The same can be said to an extent about his club team-mate Devyne Rensch and Wolfsburg’s Micky van de Ven.
Hans Hateboer and Owen Wijndal are arguably the biggest absentees in defence.
Name Club Denzel Dumfries Inter Devyne Rensch Ajax Jeremie Frimpong Bayer Leverkusen Mitchell Bakker Bayer Leverkusen Matthijs de Ligt Bayern Munich Jurrien Timber Ajax Virgil van Dijk Liverpool Stefan de Vrij Inter Nathan Ake Manchester City Daley Blind Ajax Pascal Struijk Leeds United Tyrell Malacia Manchester United Micky van de Ven Wolfsburg Sven Botman Newcastle United - Getty Images
MIDFIELDERS
Long gone are the days of Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart, but that doesn’t mean Oranje are short of quality in midfield.
Frenkie de Jong remains one of the best around on his day, regardless of his struggles at Barcelona, which seemingly have little to do with his ability and all the more with the club’s financial situation.
Ryan Gravenberch is one of the most exciting young midfielders around in the game and is slowly but surely starting to find his feet at Bayern Munich.
Atalanta duo Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon might not be the most spectacular players around, but know what’s expected at the highest level following their Serie A exploits.
And then there’s promising Eredivisie youngsters such as Kenneth Taylor and Xavi Simons, who will both be dreaming of making the trip to Qatar come November.
Simons in particular has been in stunning form in recent months and has that special X-factor that could prompt Van Gaal to include him as a bit of a wildcard option.
Donny van de Beek’s lack of playing time at Man Utd has cost him, while Roma midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum won’t make it to Qatar due to a leg fracture.
Name Club Frenkie de Jong Barcelona Kenneth Taylor Ajax Teun Koopmeiners Atalanta Marten de Roon Atalanta Ryan Gravenberch Bayern Munich Davy Klaassen Ajax Jordy Clasie AZ Xavi Simons PSV Guus Til PSV - Getty Images
ATTACKERS
Memphis Depay might have to settle for a bit-part role at Barcelona following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski, but he remains an undisputed starter for Van Gaal.
His lack of recent game time due to injury is not ideal, but could also mean he arrives in Qatar in the best shape possible.
Memphis will likely be partnered by Steven Bergwijn up top, who has revived his career at Ajax after an underwhelming spell at Tottenham.
Strikers such as Vincent Janssen, Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst might not be the most refined options, but offer something else and one of them is likely to make the cut.
The likes of Donyell Malen and Arnaut Danjuma have done well for Netherlands in recent years, but have been battling fitness issues and are by no means guaranteed a spot.
Brian Brobbey and Noa Lang have an outside chance of making it, but could be surprise inclusions.
Name Club Memphis Depay Barcelona Steven Bergwijn Ajax Steven Berghuis Ajax Cody Gakpo PSV Luuk de Jong PSV Donyell Malen Borussia Dortmund Vincent Janssen Antwerp Wout Weghorst Besiktas Brian Brobbey Ajax Arnaut Danjuma Villarreal Noa Lang Club Brugge
