Holland best footballing nation in Europe?

If you use national teams qualifying for international tournaments Holland is the best footballing nation in Europe. Bar the full team, the 2 most important teams are U17 and U21 (for those agegroups we have WCs).

Everybody knows which full teams qualified for Euro 2008.

These are the tables for the U21 WC qualification:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under21/standings/index.html

Most of the usual suspects (4 best 2nd spots qulify too) will qualify for the KO-stage.

For the Olympics (based on U21 performance): Serbia, Italy, Belgium & Holland qualified.

Unless the Italian U17s pull of a miracle, they -like a.o. Germany, Portugal, England, Croatia- will not qualify for the EC.

These are the tables for the U17 EC qualification:

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/standings/index.html

In short Holland is the only country to qualify for everything!!!!!




Spain, Romania & France might qualify for everything bar the Olympics making them close tied 2nd. Serbia could qualify for everything bar Euro 2008, so their youth is OK.

Those dastardly Russians.

Yes, I would agree with this.

To the Dutch

God bless the Conveyer belt of Dutch talent.

Apart from possibly the Euro 2008, Holland probably will be one of the favourites to win the other competitions. The u17 team has come a long way and the u21 we all know about and could do well in the Olympics. Italy, Serbia, Romania, Spain and France are up there with Holland in terms of good youth development you can see it in their teams.

Our U17 & U21s had kind draws (might well have qualified any way, but other countries say Italy U17s had a very tough group). Having said that we don't need to worry about the future at all the current 14-16 agegroup is the most talented Holland has ever had...

Don't rate your u-21 team to much. England outplayed you not long ago in that tournament. And Sno is a regular starter in this team Sno ffs.

ye..except you didnt

did actually

Watch the stats again 80-20 at ballposition!

Well of course not – these underage competitions are essentially "prospects" tournaments – good fun for fanatics and obsessives like us but a mere preparation/building towards the meat of real international competition at senior level. Otherwise Spain would be at or near the top for God's sake.

Chins

P.S. still don't know who the hottie is Fey

P.P.S. re the U21 Holland/England argument – Fey is right

Adriana Lima, my favourite Brazilian since Blanka.

As I say: marks out of two, I'd give her one

I can’t believe you didn’t know who Adriana Lima was !

I've heard of her, but wouldnae recognize her offhand. Calidad has her in his avatar, doesn't he? Albeit in a slightly different, ah, look

Ah Touché, at least you’ve heard of her. The eyes normally give it away.

Sparta is hofleverancier for the U16 team with 4 players. Surprised Feyenoord didn't steal the younger Wijnaldum already.

c**ts.