Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup
International football delegation
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The Netherlands have entered qualification for 19 of the 22 FIFA World Cup tournaments to date, qualifying 11 times. They have a record of 3 World Cup final appearances (as of 2022) without winning the tournament.
After appearing in 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 European Championship at the UEFA Euro 1988, the Dutch went out in the Round of 16, defeated by West Germany. In 1994 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. Netherlands 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. 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 their first third-place finish. After missing the 2018 World Cup, they returned in 2022, being eliminated in the quarter-final stage. They returned once again in 2026 where they had their worst ever finish, losing in the Round of 32. The Dutch have never lost a World Cup match in regular time by more than one goal, and have not 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 defeats being to Argentina.
Record at the FIFA World Cup
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
| FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| Round of 16 | 9th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Squad | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | |||
| 14th | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Squad | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| Did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | |||||||||||
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 3 | Squad | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |||
| Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 10 | Squad | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | |||
| Did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 7 | |||||||||||
| 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | Squad | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |||
| Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | Squad | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 9 | |||
| Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 7 | Squad | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 4 | |||
| Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 30 | 9 | |||||||||||
| Round of 16 | 11th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | Squad | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 3 | |||
| Runners-up | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 6 | Squad | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |||
| Third place | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 4 | Squad | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 5 | |||
| Did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 12 | |||||||||||
| Quarter-finals | 5th | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | Squad | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 8 | |||
| Round of 32 | TBD | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | Squad | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |||
| To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Runners-up | 12/23 | 58 | 32 | 16 | 11 | 109 | 57 | — | 143 | 95 | 28 | 20 | 356 | 105 | ||
| Netherlands' World Cup record | |
|---|---|
| First Match | (27 May 1934; Milan, Italy) |
| Best Result | Runners-up in 1974, 1978 and 2010 |
| Worst Result | First round in 1934 and 1938 |
By match
Record by opponent
| FIFA World Cup matches (by team) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Total | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded |
| 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 | |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
Participations
Italy 1934
| Switzerland | 3–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Kielholz Abegglen |
Report | Smit Vente |
France 1938
| Czechoslovakia | 3–0 (a.e.t.) | |
|---|---|---|
| Košťálek Nejedlý Zeman |
Report |
West Germany 1974
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | 1 |
| Uruguay | 0–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Rep |
| Netherlands | 0–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Round 2
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 6 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 |
| East Germany | 0–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Neeskens Rensenbrink |
| Netherlands | 2–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Neeskens Cruijff |
Report |
Final
| Netherlands | 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Neeskens |
Report | Breitner Müller |
Argentina 1978
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 3–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rensenbrink |
Report |
| Netherlands | 0–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Scotland | 3–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dalglish Gemmill |
Report | Rensenbrink Rep |
Round 2
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −4 | 2 |
| Austria | 1–5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Obermayer |
Report | Brandts Rensenbrink Rep W. van de Kerkhof |
| Netherlands | 2–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Haan R. van de Kerkhof |
Report | Abramczik D. Müller |
Final
Italy 1990
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
| Netherlands | 1–1 | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Kieft |
Abdelghani |
| Netherlands | 1–1 | Republic of Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| Gullit |
Quinn |
Round of 16
| West Germany | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Klinsmann Brehme |
Report | R. Koeman |
United States 1994
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6[a] | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6[a] | ||
| 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 |
Notes:
- Head-to-head result: Netherlands 2–1 Saudi Arabia.
| Netherlands | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Jonk Taument |
Report | Amin |
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
France 1998
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 5 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | −7 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 5–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cocu Overmars Bergkamp van Hooijdonk R. de Boer |
(Report) |
| Netherlands | 2–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cocu R. de Boer |
(Report) | Peláez Hernández |
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
| Netherlands | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Bergkamp Davids |
(Report) | Komljenović |
- Quarterfinals
- Semifinal
- Match for third place
| Netherlands | 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Zenden |
(Report) | Prosinečki Šuker |
Germany 2006
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| van Persie van Nistelrooy |
(Report) | B. Koné |
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
South Africa 2010
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 0 |
| Cameroon | 1–2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Eto'o |
Report | Van Persie Huntelaar |
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
- Semi-final
| Uruguay | 2–3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Forlán M. Pereira |
Report | Van Bronckhorst Sneijder Robben |
- Final
| Netherlands | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | |
|---|---|---|
| [Report 1] |
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Netherlands[5]
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Spain[5]
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:[6]
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Brazil 2014
Netherlands used all 23 players during the 2014 World Cup, making it the first team in World Cup history to ever use all of its squad players.[7] The team avenged their 2010 loss to Spain by defeating the defending champions with a stunning 5–1 victory in their opening game. They went on to achieve their first third place in any World Cup.
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 9 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | −6 | 0 |
- Group winner advance to play runner-up of Group A in the round of 16
- Group runner-up advance to play winner of Group A in the round of 16
| Spain | 1–5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Alonso |
Report | Van Persie Robben De Vrij |
Spain
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Netherlands
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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| Australia | 2–3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cahill Jedinak |
Report | Robben Van Persie Depay |
Australia
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Netherlands
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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| Netherlands | 2–0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fer Depay |
Report |
Netherlands
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Chile
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Knockout stage
- Round of 16
| Netherlands | 2–1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sneijder Huntelaar |
Report | Dos Santos |
Netherlands
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Mexico
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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- Quarter-final
Netherlands
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Costa Rica
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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- Semi final
Netherlands
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Argentina
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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- Match for third place
| Brazil | 0–3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Van Persie Blind Wijnaldum |
Brazil
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Netherlands
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Man of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Qatar 2022
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 7 | Advanced to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | −6 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 1–1 | |
|---|---|---|
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[Report 3] |
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| Netherlands | 2–0 | |
|---|---|---|
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[Report 4] |
Knockout stage
- Round of 16
- Quarter-finals
| Netherlands | 2–2 (a.e.t.) | |
|---|---|---|
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[Report 6] | |
| Penalties | ||
| 3–4 | ||
Canada–Mexico–United States 2026
Group stage
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | +6 | 7 | Advance to knockout stage | |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 5 | ||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | −10 | 0 |
| Netherlands | 2–2 | |
|---|---|---|
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[Report 7] |
| Netherlands | 5–1 | |
|---|---|---|
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[Report 8] |
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Knockout stage
Record players
| Rank | Player | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesley Sneijder | 17 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 2 | Robin van Persie | 16 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 |
| 3 | Wim Jansen | 14 | 1974 and 1978 |
| Ruud Krol | 14 | 1974 and 1978 | |
| Dirk Kuyt | 14 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 | |
| Johnny Rep | 14 | 1974 and 1978 | |
| Arjen Robben | 14 | 2006, 2010 and 2014 | |
| 8 | Arie Haan | 13 | 1974 and 1978 |
| Rob Rensenbrink | 13 | 1974 and 1978 | |
| 10 | Dennis Bergkamp | 12 | 1994 and 1998 |
| Jan Jongbloed | 12 | 1974 and 1978 | |
| Johan Neeskens | 12 | 1974 and 1978 | |
Top Goalscorers
| Player | Goals | 1934 | 1938 | 1974 | 1978 | 1990 | 1994 | 1998 | 2006 | 2010 | 2014 | 2022 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny Rep | 7 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Rob Rensenbrink | 6 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Dennis Bergkamp | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Arjen Robben | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
| Robin Van Persie | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||||
| Wesley Sneijder | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Cody Gakpo | 6 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||
| Johan Neeskens | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
| Johan Cruyff | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||
| Memphis Depay | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||
| Ernie Brandts | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Arie Haan | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Brian Brobbey | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Crysencio Summerville | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Kick Smit | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Leen Vente | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Theo de Jong | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Ruud Krol | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Willy Van de Kerkhof | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| René Van de Kerkhof | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Dick Nanninga | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Virgil Van Dijk | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Total | 69 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 8 |