# Netherlands national under-21 football team

The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years.
Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Dutch Under-21 team was formed. The team did not have a very good record, failing to qualify for nine of the fifteen tournaments. The team did not enter for the 1978 competition, but since then has reached the semi-finals twice, and qualified for the last eight on three other occasions.
Since the under-21 competition rules insist that players must be 21 or under at the start of a two-year competition, technically it is an U-23 competition. For this reason, the Netherlands' record in the preceding U-23 competitions is also shown. The first competitive match was in the "Under-23 Challenge", a match which they lost. The team qualified for the last eight of each of the three U-23 tournaments.
In 2006 the Netherlands national under-21 football team of coach Foppe de Haan won the 2006 European Under-21 Championship. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar became top scorer and player of the tournament with four goals, and also broke the all-time goalscoring record of 15 goals previously held by Roy Makaay and Arnold Jan Bruggink, in his last match with the team as he pushed this record to eighteen goals. The following year, Netherlands national under-21 football team successfully defended their title by winning the 2007 European Under-21 Championship in the final against Serbia with 4–1. Maceo Rigters was the top scorer of the competition with four goals and Royston Drenthe was the Player of the Tournament. The win meant that the Netherlands qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The team failed to qualify for the 2009 European Under-21 Championship, after losing out to Switzerland in their final qualifying match.

## Competitive record
### UEFA U-23 Championship record

The Netherlands were randomly chosen to play against Bulgaria for the title in a one-off match in Sofia, which the Netherlands lost.
* 17 April 1968: Bulgaria 3–1 Netherlands.

### UEFA U-23 Championship Record

| UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | UEFA U-23 Championship Record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1972 | Quarter-finals | ? | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 |
| 1974 | Quarter-finals | ? | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 1976 | Semi finals | ? | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 |
| Total | 0 titles | 3/3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 23 | 11 |
(*) Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

### UEFA U-21 Championship Record

| UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | UEFA U-21 Championship Record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1978 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 1980 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| 1982 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 1984 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| 1986 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 3 |
| 1988 | Semi-finals | 3rd/4th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| 1990 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 1992 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| 1994 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 14 |
| 1996 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 9 |
| 1998 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Squad | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 5 |
| 2000 | Group stage | 6th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Squad | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 9 |
| 2002 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 10 |
| 2004 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 10 |
| 2006 | Final | Champions | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | Squad | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 7 |
| 2007 | Final | Champions | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5 | Squad | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts | Qualified as hosts |
| 2009 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 8 |
| 2013 | Semi-finals | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 7 | Squad | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 3 |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 26 | 13 |
| 2017 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 10 |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 6 |
| 2021 | Semi-finals | 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 6 | Squad | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 46 | 5 |
| 2023 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Squad | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 |
| Total | 2 titles | 9/24 | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 52 | 34 | — | 178 | 104 | 33 | 41 | 391 | 151 |
(*) Denotes draws including knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

### Olympic Games

Summer Olympic record :
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GS | GA |
| 1992 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 2012 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2020 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2024 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| Total | 1/7 | 0 Medals | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 |

## Results and fixtures 2021–2023
### 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
#### Qualification

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | | | | | | |
| 1 | Netherlands | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 3 | +29 | 26 | Final tournament | — | 2–0 | 3–0 | 5–0 | 3–1 | 6–0 |
| 2 | Switzerland | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 | 23 | Final tournament | 2–2 | — | 3–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| 3 | Moldova | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 | −5 | 12 | | 0–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| 4 | Wales | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 11 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 10 | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–4 | — | 5–0 |
| 6 | Gibraltar | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 41 | −40 | 1 | | 0–7 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–7 | 1–1 | — |

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for the matches against Mexico on 10 October and Sweden on 14 October 2024.
Caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2024, after the match against Georgia.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Calvin Raatsie | (2002-02-09) 9 February 2002 (age 23) | 6 | 0 | Excelsior |
| 16 | 1GK | Dani van den Heuvel | (2003-05-28) 28 May 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Club Brugge |
| 23 | 1GK | Robin Roefs | (2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | NEC |
| 12 | 2DF | Neraysho Kasanwirjo | (2002-02-18) 18 February 2002 (age 22) | 7 | 0 | Rangers |
| 2 | 2DF | Devyne Rensch | (2003-01-18) 18 January 2003 (age 22) | 13 | 2 | Ajax |
| 4 | 2DF | Jorrel Hato | (2006-03-07) 7 March 2006 (age 18) | 5 | 0 | Ajax |
| 3 | 2DF | Wouter Goes | (2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | AZ |
| 8 | 2DF | Ian Maatsen | (2002-03-10) 10 March 2002 (age 22) | 16 | 1 | Aston Villa |
| 5 | 2DF | Bjorn Meijer | (2003-03-18) 18 March 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 2 | Club Brugge |
| 15 | 2DF | Youri Baas | (2003-03-17) 17 March 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Ajax |
| 14 | 2DF | Max Bruns | (2002-11-06) 6 November 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Twente |
| 13 | 3MF | Ryan Flamingo | (2002-12-31) 31 December 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | PSV |
| 6 | 3MF | Kenneth Taylor | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 14 | 2 | Ajax |
| 18 | 3MF | Julian Baas | (2002-04-16) 16 April 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Excelsior |
| 20 | 3MF | Youri Regeer | (2003-08-18) 18 August 2003 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | FC Twente |
| 11 | 4FW | Ruben van Bommel | (2004-08-03) 3 August 2004 (age 20) | 7 | 3 | AZ |
| 10 | 4FW | Myron van Brederode | (2003-07-06) 6 July 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 1 | AZ |
| 17 | 4FW | Ernest Poku | (2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | AZ |
| 19 | 4FW | Noah Ohio | (2003-01-16) 16 January 2003 (age 22) | 7 | 5 | Utrecht |
| 7 | 4FW | Million Manhoef | (2002-01-03) 3 January 2002 (age 23) | 11 | 3 | Stoke City |
| 22 | 4FW | Ibrahim Cissoko | (2003-03-26) 26 March 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle |
| | 4FW | Emanuel Emegha | (2003-02-03) 3 February 2003 (age 22) | 4 | 0 | RC Strasbourg |
| 9 | 4FW | Sontje Hansen | (2002-05-18) 18 May 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 1 | NEC |

### Recent call ups

The following players have previously been called up to the Netherlands under-21 squad in the last year and remain eligible.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| DF | Anass Salah-Eddine | (2002-01-18) 18 January 2002 (age 23) | 7 | 0 | Roma | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| DF | Finn van Breemen | (2003-02-25) 25 February 2003 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | FC Basel | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| DF | Rav van den Berg | (2004-07-07) 7 July 2004 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Middlesbrough | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| DF | Tyrese Asante | (2002-04-09) 9 April 2002 (age 22) | 1 | 0 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| MF | Ryan Gravenberch | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) | 11 | 1 | Liverpool | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| MF | Dirk Proper | (2002-02-24) 24 February 2002 (age 22) | 7 | 1 | NEC | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| MF | Calvin Twigt | (2003-01-30) 30 January 2003 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | FC Volendam | UEFA Euro U-21 qualification |
| $^{INJ}$ Withdrew due to injury. $^{PRE}$ Preliminary squad. $^{SEN}$ Accepted call up to senior team. |||||||

### Overage players in Olympic Games

| Tournament | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 |
| 2008 | Kew Jaliens (DF) | Gerald Sibon (FW) | Roy Makaay (FW) |

### Notable players from under-21 football team

* Jo Bonfrere
* Roy Makaay
* Arnold Bruggink
* Wilfred Bouma
* Peter Wisgerhof
* Victor Sikora
* Mark van Bommel
* Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
* Dirk Kuyt
* Kenneth Vermeer
* Gijs Luirink
* Nicky Hofs
* Stijn Schaars
* Urby Emanuelson
* Romeo Castelen
* Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
* Robin van Persie
* Boy Waterman
* Ron Vlaar
* Ryan Donk
* Gianni Zuiverloon
* Hedwiges Maduro
* Otman Bakkal
* Maceo Rigters
* Ryan Babel
* Royston Drenthe
* Tim Krul
* Erik Pieters

## Individual all-time records
### Most capped players

| Rank | Player | Career | Matches | Goals |
| 1 | Arnold Bruggink | 1995–1999 | 31 | 15 |
| 1 | Leroy Fer | 2009–2013 | 31 | 6 |
| 3 | Daniël de Ridder | 2004–2007 | 30 | 1 |
| 4 | Niels Oude Kamphuis | 1996–2000 | 28 | 2 |
| 5 | Roy Makaay | 1994–1998 | 27 | 15 |
| 5 | Mark van Bommel | 1996–2000 | 27 | 3 |
| 7 | Kiki Musampa | 1996–2000 | 25 | 8 |
| 7 | Arnold Kruiswijk | 2003–2007 | 25 | 0 |
| 9 | Georginio Wijnaldum | 2009–2013 | 24 | 10 |
| 10 | Daley Blind | 2009–2013 | 23 | 0 |
| 10 | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 2002–2006 | 23 | 18 |
| 10 | Bram Nuytinck | 2010–2013 | 23 | 2 |
| 10 | Marco van Ginkel | 2011–2014 | 23 | 4 |
| 10 | Tonny Vilhena | 2013–2016 | 23 | 4 |
Last updated: 29 May 2014

### Most goals scored

| Rank | Player | Career | Goals | Matches | Average |
| 1 | Klaas-Jan Huntelaar | 2002–2006 | 18 | 23 | 0.78 |
| 2 | Roy Makaay | 1994–1998 | 15 | 27 | 0.56 |
| 2 | Arnold Bruggink | 1995–1999 | 15 | 31 | 0.48 |
| 4 | Género Zeefuik | 2011–2012 | 10 | 12 | 0.83 |
| 4 | Georginio Wijnaldum | 2009–2013 | 10 | 24 | 0.42 |
| 6 | Brian Brobbey | 2021– | 9 | 17 | 0.53 |
| 7 | Vincent Janssen | 2014–2015 | 8 | 10 | 0.80 |
| 7 | Kiki Musampa | 1996–2000 | 8 | 25 | 0.32 |
| 9 | Edwin Bakker | 1984–1985 | 7 | 7 | 1.00 |
| 9 | Ronald de Boer | 1989–1992 | 7 | 9 | 0.78 |
| 9 | Quincy Promes | 2013–2014 | 7 | 10 | 0.70 |
| 9 | Joshua Zirkzee | 2020– | 7 | 19 | 0.37 |
| 9 | Jurgen Ekkelenkamp | 2020–2023 | 7 | 22 | 0.32 |
Last updated: 27 June 2023