The Kit: HOLLAND HOME 2000-02
Growing more and more restless anticipating the start of the 2017-18 club seasons. This has been a rather lackluster summer from a footballing standpoint, leaving me digging through the youtube library of classic moments in football history to pass the time. This weeks throwback goes back 17 years highlighting a Dutch team that seemed to be a shoe in for Euro 2000 title.
Brand: NIKE
Worn By: Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, Jaap Stam, and Clarence Seedorf
The Story:
This Dutch would be tournament co hosts with Belgium and were heavily favored to lift the European title. There was little to argue once you look back at their roster stacked with football legends all in their prime. The kit was a simple design with a vibrant orange paired with aggressive black accents.
A 3-2 victory over the world champions France cemented a perfect start for the Dutch in the group stage and would then would obliterate Yugoslavia 6-1 in the quarterfinals. However, everything would fall to pieces in their semifinal match against Italy. Bergkamp had a beautiful shot rejected by the post, Zambrotta sent off in the 34th minute, Frank de Boer and Patrick Kluivert would both fail to convert their awarded penalty kicks. Crucial opportunities were not capitalized on in regulation and the Oranje would fall to the Italians in shootouts.
