Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIn some ways, the Netherlands are one of football's biggest over-achievers.For over 50 years, the Dutch have punched well above their weight for a nation with a current population just above 18 million - far less than many of the game's biggest powerhouses.But when you consider the quality of players the Netherlands have had over the years - Johan Cruyff, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Dennis Bergkamp, Wesley Sneijder, Lieke Martens, Virgil van Dijk - it seems curious that they have remained bridesmaids at best at the World Cup.The Netherlands among a clutch of football powerhouses who have never won World CupWe don't think there is a side with a better claim to being the best side never to have won the World Cup.The Cruyff-inspired Total Football side of the 1970s is still talked about as perhaps the most influential side in post-war football - far more so than the West Germany and Argentina sides that beat them in the final in 1974 and 1978, respectively. You may like The Netherlands are the World Cup 2026 dark horses people aren't talking about enough Curacao, the tiny nation ready to paint the World Cup blue Netherlands squad World Cup 2026: Ronald Koeman's squad to face Japan Another great generation of Dutch players came around in the 1980s.They produced three successive Ballon d'Or winners from 1987 to 1989 in the shape of Gullit and (twice) Van Basten. Both were part of the Dutch side that won Euro 1988, alongside the likes of Ronald Koeman and Frank Rijkaard.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.No other side in history has reached more men's World Cup semi-finals (5) or finals (3) without winning the trophy, with semi-final appearances in 1998 and 2014, and another silver medal in 2010, when they lost to Spain.Even the fabulous women's side that romped to the Euro 2017 trophy fell short to the USA in the World Cup final two years later.That's five generations of great Dutch sides who somehow never managed to lay claim to the title of world champions. What to read next World Cup 2026 Playoffs: The complete guide How to watch World Cup 2026: FREE live streams, groups, next matches World Cup 2026: Every team to have qualified There are a few other nations that merit a mention, though.Either side of the Second World War, Austria and Hungary were world football's great innovators, and had an even more profound impact on how the game is played than the Holland outfit of the 1970s.Yet they never won the World Cup, either. Hungary went closest: they lost to Italy in the 1938 final, before Ferenc Puskas, Nandor Hidegkuti and co squandered an early 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to West Germany in the 1954 final. The most maddening thing about the latter is that Hungary had absolutely whooped the Germans 8-3 (yes, eight-three) in the group stage of that tournament.Austria meanwhile reached the semis twice, in 1938 and 1954, but never got as far as the final.Sweden feel like a strange shout now, but they are just behind the Dutch for making it to the final four of World Cups without winning the thing: they were runners-up as hosts in 1958, and went out in the semi-finals in 1938, 1950 and 1994. Sweden were also losing finalists at the 2003 Women's World Cup.Perennial dark horses Croatia have reached three semi-finals as an independent nation, and a further two as part of the former Yugoslavia, but have only got to the final once, with Luka Modric the star of the side that lost to France in 2018.Then there's Portugal. Eusebio helped fire them to the semi-finals in 1966, where they drew plenty of admirers, but they lost to hosts and eventual winners England.40 years later, Cristiano Ronaldo and friends got to the semis again, only to lose to a Zinedine Zidane penalty.Czechoslovakia went even better than that, but still not better enough: they were beaten finalists in 1934 and 1962.But in our eyes, none of them top the Dutch for sheer frustration.TOPICSNetherlandsPortugalCroatiaHungaryCzech RepublicCzechoslovakiaYugoslaviaPolandWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Steven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
