The Netherlands have never failed to progress from the group stage since 1974 when they first entered a professional side
A question for Big Pete: were the Netherlands not classed as " professional " when they failed to qualify for the 1970 world cup? I know they had Cruyff and some of the "total football" crew playing. That 1969-70 period when people started to become aware that the Netherlands were a rising force in European football.
Yeah doesn't really count because they didn't qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
Didn't qualify in 1982 or 1986 either. But when they've qualified, they've always made out of the group stage...
Chile have a far inferior World Cup record and have only made it out of the group stage three times in seven post-war appearances.
Chile have failed to qualify for six World Cups since 1974 -and were even disqualified during qualifying for cheating in 1990 and banned from all participation in 1994....