Spakenburg
World Soccer|June 2023
Amateur club stun Dutch football by reaching cup semi-finals
Klaas-Jan Droppert
Spakenburg

There was so much to talk about that it’s difficult to know where to start. The Dutch Cup semi-finals made more than enough headlines and most of them for the wrong reasons: the hostility between arch-rivals Feyenoord and Ajax, who met at De Kuip, culminating in Davy Klaassen being struck on the head by an object thrown from the stands, or the homophobic chants aimed at PSV’s Xavi Simons. It all provoked another social discussion about how to tackle these issues in Dutch football. Again.

With so many shadows cast over the competition it would be easy to forget that there was also something to smile about. A remarkable fairy tale from an amateur club reaching the semi-finals that gave Dutch giants PSV a run for their money and almost caused the Dutch FA another problem to solve.

SV Spakenburg play in the third tier of Dutch football (known as the Jack’s League, for sponsorship reasons), which is the country’s highest amateur level. They are not exactly blowing the league away either, currently set for a mediocre mid-table finish. Yet that didn’t prevent the club from causing one of the most extraordinary giant-killing cup campaigns in the history of Dutch football.

Bu hikaye World Soccer dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye World Soccer dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

WORLD SOCCER DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 dak  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 dak  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 dak  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 dak  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 dak  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 dak  |
July 2024