Cruyff, Gullit, Van Basten... Wessel Nijman selects dream Dutch five-a-side team as Netherlands comes to terms with more World Cup disappointment

While Wessel Nijman is best known for his achievements on the oche, the Dutchman also has a clear passion for elite sport beyond darts.

Recently, the up and coming talent was asked by Darts Corner to name his ideal five-a-side team from the Netherlands, he barely hesitates. The darter opts for a line-up full of icons from Dutch football history, blending defensive solidity, creativity, and goalscoring prowess.

The choice between the sticks is made quickly. “In goal I’d pick Edwin van der Sar,” Nijman says decisively. The former international, who starred for the likes of Ajax, Juventus, and Manchester United, is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers the Netherlands has ever produced.

Nijman, who has already won eight PDC ranking titles this year, doesn’t need long to sort out the back line either. “As my defender I’m going for Jaap Stam.” The rugged former centre-back was known for his uncompromising style and became a key figure for Manchester United between 1998–2001.

Naturally, the greatest Dutch football legend cannot be left out. “Johan Cruyff has to be in there as well, obviously,” says Nijman.

The three-time Ballon d’Or winner not only transformed Dutch football with his vision and technique, but also left a global mark on the sport.

For the final two spots, the darter again turns to players with unquestioned pedigree. “Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit,” he lists. With Van Basten he brings in one of the most clinical finishers in football history, while Gullit’s versatility, leadership, and technical quality complete the team. Together, they formed a key part of the golden generation that delivered the European title to the Netherlands in the late 1980s.

There’s no doubt about the coach either. “Louis van Gaal, one hundred percent,” says Nijman with a broad smile. He then wraps up his selection playfully by singing the well-known supporters’ chant: “Louis van Gaal’s Red Army!”

With Van der Sar, Stam, Cruyff, Van Basten, and Gullit, Nijman selects a team of players who each wrote history in their own way. Notably, he doesn’t include a single active footballer, although given Netherlands disappointing penalty defeat in the last 32 of the 2026 World Cup to Morocco, perhaps that isn't surprising.

His choices show that the darter values not only individual brilliance, but also leadership, mentality, and players who could deliver on the biggest occasions. With Louis van Gaal in charge, Nijman’s dream team is complete.