The ‘van’ factor
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This one is a totally random-but-incredible fact. The two things that the Dutch football are most famous for is the color orange and the middle name ‘van’.
Some of the greatest players have ‘van’ in their name—be it Marco van Basten, Ruud van Nistelrooy or Robin van Persie. Indeed, the name is so common that if one looked for the last time Netherlands started a game without a player named ‘van’ prior to the 2014 World Cup (where a suspended van Persie missed the game against Chile), they would have to go back to 2000.
In a game against France, which they won 3-2, during Euro 2000, the Dutch team had no player in the starting XI with the name ‘van’. Quite an astonishing fact, isn’t it?
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Edited by Staff Editor
