Oranje’s long-range goals vanish: zero in 2026 after 20% in 2010

The Dutch national team has scored zero goals from outside the 16-metre area in 2026, down from 20% during the 2010 World Cup year. Wesley Sneijder, a master of the long-range strike, expressed concern ahead of the match against Sweden: „You need those goals to go far in a tournament.” In 2026, Oranje has not scored a single goal from outside the penalty area. Cody Gakpo remains the closest weapon, with his strike against Japan on Sunday coming closest to a long-range effort. Over the past two years, Oranje scored just five of 62 goals (8%) from outside the 16-metre line, with Gakpo responsible for most of them. The decline reflects a broader tactical shift in modern football, where coaches prioritise possession and patient build-up. „Keep combining, men, even if it means all the way to the goal line,” is the modern mantra. „You don’t score from far away, but up close.” Ruud van Nistelrooij is working with Oranje’s strikers to refine their shooting technique. Brian Brobbey, once prone to wild strikes at Ajax, has improved under Van Nistelrooij’s guidance. „The last steps must be small to stay balanced,” Van Nistelrooij advises.

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Tactically, Oranje’s love for possession often sees midfielders and strikers move towards the ball rather than create space. „It’s about the art of staying away,” Ronald Koeman said during the recent World Cup qualifiers. Ryan Gravenberch, who occasionally scores long-range for Liverpool, has yet to do so for Oranje. Tijjani Reijnders fires more long-range attempts than any other Oranje midfielder but has yet to score from distance. His father Martin once incentivised shooting by paying him to test the goalkeeper.

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Against Japan, Gravenberch struggled to find space, while Reijnders’ efforts have consistently missed the target. Against Sweden, Gakpo will need support from left-back Micky van de Ven, who must stretch play down the flank to create room for the winger. Sneijder remains hopeful: „You need those long-range goals to progress in a tournament. Cruijff knew it already: if you don’t shoot, you can’t score.”