As the 1950s drew to an end the Dutch national side was under the management of Romanian Elek Schwartz and enjoying varying fortunes. The calendar year of 1959 brought a heavy defeat in West Germany, but also crushing home wins over Belgium and Norway. This generation was particularly powerful in attack and the dynamic quartet of Tonny van der Linden, Kees Rijvers, Piet van der Kuil and the veteran superstar Faas Wilkes all scored freely in these fixtures.