THE VITALS:

Team: Holland (the Netherlands)

Brand: Nike

Era: 2014-15

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This jacket comes in excellent condition! All of the zippers are in fine working condition, meanwhile the material and applications are also in excellent condition; bearing very little wear on the whole.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Medium

Pit to Pit Measurement: 19.5 inches

Shirt Length: 26.5 inches

Although not made in the Nike Dri-Fit style, this jacket provides an excellent snug fit; so much so, that I may even suggest that it may fit a size small better.

DESCRIPTION: 

Ahead of The Netherlands adventure in Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup; the KNVB changed the national emblem from just the lion’s head, to the full lion of Oranje being housed in a shield. With the new crest came the return of white as the accompanying colour, meanwhile, the orange returned to a more a duskier and darker tone. This jacket also features the text ‘Nederland’ written on the back in the same font used for the player name and numbering.

THE SEASON(S):

With just over 3 months until the start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the Netherlands put their 17 match unbeaten run on the line against France on March 5^th 2014 in Paris and Louis Van Gaal would be left second guessing as they were beaten 2-0. An injury to key man; Kevin Strootman 4 days later would present ‘LVG’ with a selection and stylistic conundrum with the tournament edging ever closer. He would switch from the classic 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 system and while 2 wins and a draw follow; the real litmus test of the new system would be in the rematch of the 2010 World Cup Final against Spain.

The June 13^th showdown in Salvador would see Spain take the lead, before the most incredible of results saw Holland win 5-1! They’d have to come back from 2-1 down against Australia to win 3-2 and reach the Last 16. The ‘Oranje’ would make it 3 wins from 3 as they saw off Chile 2-0; the victory would book a date with Mexico in the Last 16.

They’d ride their luck once more, this time needing an 88^th minute equaliser, before a controversial last minute penalty won by Arjen Robben would see Holland win 2-1. Their quarter final opponents would be Costa Rica, and the game would go all the way to penalties, where Louis Van Gaal would make the decision to replace Jasper Cillessen with Tim Krul ahead of the shootout. The decision would be a masterstroke as he would save 2 spot-kicks to help his country reach the semi-finals!

A tense battle with Argentina in Sao Paolo would also go to penalties, however, they would be beaten 4-2. Still, in Louis Van Gaal’s final game in charge of the national side, he’d guide the nation to a 3^rd place finish after they beat Brazil 3-0 in the 3^rd place play off, to once again exceed expectations at the World Cup tournament finals.

The transition to Guus Hiddink’s leadership would be a hard one as they would win just twice in 6 outings in 2014 post the World Cup. Although he would oversee a 2-0 win over Spain on March 31^st 2015; Hiddink would be replaced by Danny Blind on July 1^st, however, his tenure wouldn’t start much better either with 2 wins and 2 losses in the 2016 European Championship qualifiers, leaving the Dutch needing to beat the Czech Republic in the final qualifier while hoping Iceland would defeat Turkey if they were to stand any chance of reaching Euro 2016.       

The notable players that season(s) were:

Robin van Persie, Memphis Depay, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Leroy Fer, Jermain Lens, Rafael van der Vaart, Arjen Robben, Dirk Kuyt, Wesley Sneijder, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordy Clasie Jonathan De Guzman, Daryl Janmaat, Nigel De Jong, Gregory van der Wiel, Ron Vlaar, Stefan De Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi, Joel Veltman, Daley Blind, Jasper Cillessen, Tim Krul, Michel Vorm