ARJEN ROBBEN

Flying winger Arjen Robben made his debut for the Netherlands senior team as a teenager. Robben was just 19 when he played his first game against Portugal in April 2003. He would go on to enjoy a 14-year career with the Netherlands senior team until he called time on his international career in 2017.

Arjen Robben was part of a major tournament in the colours of the Dutch senior team for the first time at the Euro 2004 tournament. The winger was part of the 23-man Dutch team named by manager Dick Advocaat to the tournament hosted by Portugal. Robben made the squad alongside fellow young players such as defender John Heitinga and playmaker Wesley Sneijder.

In the group stage game against Czech Republic at the Euro 2004 tournament, Advocaat removed Robben around the midway point of the second half with the Dutch team looking to preserve their 2-1 lead. The decision to remove Robben from the game was heavily criticised after the Czechs scored two goals to win the game 3-2. In the quarterfinals, Arjen Robben scored the decisive spot kick during shootout to send his country to the semi-finals at the expense of opponents Sweden. The Netherlands were able to win a penalty shootout in a major tournament at the fifth time of asking.

Arjen Robben scored two goals in six World Cup qualifiers ahead of the 2006 edition on German soil. At the tournament proper, the winger scored the winning goal in the Netherlands’ opening match against Serbia and Montenegro and he won the best player award afterwards. In the next group game against Ivory Coast, Robben was also given the best player award.

Robben went on to represent his country at four more major tournaments. He finished his career with the Senior team on 37 goals from 96 games.