Netherlands

The Netherlands were pioneers in international futsal but their qualification for Antwerp ends a spell in the doldrums.

Losing their first match 7-2 in Belgium in 1977, the Netherlands soon became a world-class outfit and, inspired by Vic Hermans, reached the first FIFA Futsal World Cup final in 1989 in Rotterdam. They qualified for the next three editions and also for the first three UEFA Futsal EUROs, but their fortunes dipped despite another continental qualification under Hermans in 2005. However, they have always come close since, and their wait ended this time after a dramatic play-off with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mohamed Attaibi scoring the decisive goal with 88 seconds remaining.

Qualifying
Main round: Belarus 2-1, Georgia 7-3, Czech Republic 1-5 (Group 6 runners-up)

Play-offs: Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-3 (a), 2-1(h), agg: 4-4 (Netherlands win on away goals)

Key players
Mohamed Attaibi, Najib El Allouchi, Samir Makhoukhi

Coach: Marcel Loosveld

Date of birth: 28 September 1970
Playing career: VV Caesar Beek, GSV '28 (football); ZVV de Haantjes Beek, Ceverbo Dordrecht, Dallas Sidekicks, Bouwfonds Geleen, ZVK Genk, Isola Hoeselt, Bunga Melati (futsal)
Coaching career: Bunga Melati, Netherlands U21, Netherlands

Netherlands coach Marcel Loosveld had a successful amateur football career as a forward with VV Caesar Beek and GSV '28 between 1984 and 1997, but was simultaneously achieving huge success in futsal.

Loosveld started in the small-sided game with ZVV de Haantjes Beek in 1982 and went on to play for Ceverbo Dordrecht, American Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) team Dallas Sidekicks, Bouwfonds Geleen, ZVK Genk, Isola Hoeselt and Bunga Melati. In that time he won three Dutch titles plus one in Belgium, two Dutch Cups, two Benelux Cups and played in the 1989 MISL All-Star game. Capped 34 times by the Netherlands, he scored 16 international goals, including the equaliser in the 2-1 defeat by Brazil in the inaugural FIFA Futsal World Cup final in 1989 – after which he was snapped up by Dallas.

Bunga Melati made Loosveld assistant coach in 1997 and he took sole charge a year later. In 2003 he was appointed assistant to Netherlands senior and Under-21 coach Vic Hermans, his 1989 World Cup team-mate, and took over the junior side last year. Loosveld immediately led the Netherlands to the inaugural UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament and in 2009 he succeeded Hermans as senior coach, missing out on UEFA Futsal EURO 2012 but making it two years later.

Qualifying top scorer
Mohamed Attaibi 5

Tournament record
2012: Did not qualify
2010: Did not qualify
2007: Did not qualify
2005: Group stage
2003: Did not qualify
2001: Group stage
1999: Fourth place
1996: Group stage

Other honours
FIFA Futsal World Cup runners-up: 1989