Since their role in the reinvention of football during the 1970s, the Dutch have always been at the forefront of producing young talents until the last few years. A team that almost used to consistently make it to the final four of international tournaments did not take part in the UEFA Euro 2016 following a deplorable qualifying campaign.
Some blame it on the management while others criticise the players for the Netherlands’ poor form of late. Danny Blind, who has been in charge of the national side since June 2015, still seems to be in the process of finding his best playing XI.
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Despite their recent setbacks, the youth system in Netherlands has continued to produce talented youngsters, some of whom have been called up to represent their country after excelling at the club level.
Here we take a look at five of the best young Dutch talents, who are aged 23 or lower:
#5 – Bart Ramselaar (PSV Eindhoven, 20 years old)
Bart Ramselaar has made great strides in his career since the 2015/16 season when he played 37 games for FC Utrecht in a campaign that saw them finishing an impressive fifth place in the Eredivisie. Before the 2015/16 season, Ramselaar had played for Utrecht only five times during the 2014/15 season.
His impressive performances for Utrecht saw him move to PSV Eindhoven at the start of the 2016/17 season. In eight appearances for his new side, he has scored two goals and has two assists to his name. What makes Ramselaar special is his excellent ball control and an ability to create opportunities out of almost nothing for his team.
The 20-year-old was also called up to the senior national side during May 2016. Ramselaar made his international debut in the recently concluded international break when he came on as a sub in the friendly match against Belgium on November 9, 2016.
#4 – Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord, 21 years old)
Amidst many rumours that he would leave Feyenoord at the end of the 2015/16 season, Tonny Vilhena ended up signing a contract with the Rotterdam-based club in July 2016. It has turned out to be a great move so far as the 21-year-old is having a great time in the Eredivisie this season.
After 12 games, Feyenoord are leading the table and a lot of credit has to go to Vilhena, who has been instrumental in the centre of the field. He has played all 90 minutes in all of the 11 matches he played this season. In the only match he did not start, Feyenoord lost their only match to then bottom-placed Go Ahead Eagles.
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Vilhena made his international debut for Netherlands against Austria in a friendly in June 2016. Manchester United fans will remember the young midfielder as the one who scored the winning goal in Feyenoord's 1-0 win over the Red Devils in their UEFA Europa League opener.
#3 – Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax Amsterdam, 20 years old)
Riechedly Bazoer is one of the most talented youngsters to have come through from the Dutch youth system recently. The 20-year-old has been lauded by coaches and managers throughout Netherlands to be the next big name in Dutch football.
Preferring to play a deep-lying role in midfield, Bazoer has been likened to Dutch legends like Frank Rijkaard and Clarence Seedorf owing to his pace and power. Growing up in the PSV Eindhoven academy, Bazoer decided to move to Ajax in 2012 on a free. Since then, he has grown into a powerhouse in the midfield for Ajax and also has an eye for goal, with great ability to finish from long range.
Bazoer's performances did not go unnoticed as he got a senior Netherlands debut in November 2015 against Wales. He has since represented his country five more times. The Utrecht-born midfielder considers Barcelona as his dream club. Looking at the way he has been growing, a move to Nou Camp does not seem entirely impossible.
#2 – Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur, 22 years old)
When Vincent Janssen moved from AZ Alkmaar to Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window, many Spurs fans would have been optimistic about the young Dutch striker. Janssen had a brilliant 2015/16 season for AZ, scoring 27 goals in 34 appearances. However, he has been able to score only 1 goal in the 11 appearances for Tottenham.
Of the 11 appearances for his new club, Janssen started only four matches. The 22-year-old is known to be a slow starter, having taken eight matches for him to register his first goal for AZ. Janssen sure has the talent and skills to grow into a prolific striker and Tottenham might just be the perfect club for him with the number of attacking talent around him.
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Since making his debut for Netherlands in early 2016, Janssen has scored four goals in 10 appearances and looks to be the number one choice of Danny Blind as the striker. Having been awarded the Dutch Talent of the Year in 2016, Janssen could grow into one of the best strikers in world football in the coming years.
#1 – Davy Klaassen (Ajax Amsterdam, 23 years old)
Although Davy Klaassen might have started as a box-to-box midfielder, over the last season or two the 23-year-old has a new-found attacking ability that has made him the best young Dutch talent out there currently.
Having been a part of the famed Ajax academy, Klaassen was named as club captain from the start of the 2015/16. The very fact that the club gave all responsibility to a 22-year-old speaks volumes about how Klaassen is assessed.
After having scored 13 goals and creating 8 in the Eredivisie last season, Klaassen has already scored 7 goals in 12 league matches this season. He has also been a regular in the national side and most recently scored in the friendly against Belgium.
Klaassen's attacking prowess is certain to bring him more success for club and country as the free role he possesses allows him to be more effective up the pitch. With many of the Dutch stalwarts ageing, players like Klaassen could help the Dutch national side restore their consistent performances from the past.
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