AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) - The 'Oranje' are back on the biggest European stage with their faithful followers sure to light up the stands when they arrive in Prague. After missing out on the last edition in 2017, Netherlands made it back to the big time with a strong FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers campaign as they defied their seeding to finish second in a group involving Croatia and Turkey, while it was Sweden who missed out.

Netherlands had endured a long 28-year wait to get back to EuroBasket before qualifying in 2015, and they will be out to ensure that missing out in 2017 is the new exception rather than the norm with a chance to establish themselves amongst the top European sides. Their 73-72 triumph over Georgia in the opening game of 2015 ended an even longer gap between wins at the tournament having gone 0-5 in their previous appearance in 1989.

The best-ever finish for Netherlands came six years earlier when they achieved fourth place, losing to the Soviet Union in the battle for bronze and they have never been as close to the podium.

There is perhaps no greater baptism of fire than an opening game against much-fancied title contenders Serbia this time around. Ensuing battles with Israel, Czech Republic, Poland and Finland may provide a better indicator of their aspirations to make it through to the knockout stages for the first time this century.

The success of EuroBasket qualification was followed by early struggles in their bid to make a return to the FIBA Basketball World Cup with zero wins to their name as they moved onto the Second Round. Those past performances offered plenty of encouragement with a victory over Turkey in Ankara being the highlight of the campaign before the competition moved into a bubble operation as a result of the pandemic.

Charlon Kloof was Netherland’s leading performer in the EuroBasket Qualifiers in topping the team’s scoring and rebounding charts with 15.4 points and 5.8 boards per game across six appearances. Further scoring prowess comes in the form of shooting guard Yannick Franke, who sadly will miss the EuroBasket dude to injury,  while 20-year-old Keye Van Der Vuurst De Vries is one of Europe’s most promising guards having caught the eye in Basketball Champions League action as a teenager.

Worthy de Jong is aging like fine wine and, at the age of 34, he is expected to lead the Dutch offense at the EuroBasket

There is also the added sentiment of a final farewell to the senior international stage for Worthy de Jong at EuroBasket. A veteran leader who has given everything for his country has decided to retire from the 5-on-5 game and is still more than capable of playing a major role with his versatile all-round skillset.

Experience also means so much more when it comes to major tournaments and there will have been lessons learned from 2015 with the aim of building upon that solitary victory under new leadership as Maurizio Buscaglia is at the helm.
 

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

HOW DID  QUALIFY: FIBA EUROBASKET 2022 QUALIFIERS - 2nd IN GROUP D (3W - 3L)

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