The Dutch national team's World Cup final loss is yet another chapter in a history of unfulfilled expectations and second-place finishes.

Netherlands' squad, nicknamed the "Oranje," has lost all three of its finals' appearances, including consecutive losses to host teams West Germany and Argentina in the 1970s during the reign of Netherlands' "Golden Generation," a collection of arguably some of the strongest national teams in soccer history.

North Allegheny High School boys' soccer head coach Bob Vosmaer knows first-hand about the letdown the Dutch squad is currently feeling -- he was a member of that Golden Generation, having played twice for his country in 1975.

"[It's] disappointing," said Vosmaer, 58, who roomed with current Oranje head coach Bert van Marwijk when the two played for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar in the second half of the 1970s.

"If they played with the same focus they had before, I think it would have been an interesting game.

"I'm just disappointed that we didn't really play what we're capable of," he added.

While several Dutch players and coaches blamed the team's loss on poor refereeing, Vosmaer noted that Netherlands had clear scoring chances that it failed to convert. His admission that the Oranje's deserving opponents came out on top makes sense coming from a player who has been able to come to terms with an injury that abruptly cut his promising international career short.

Born in Indonesia to a Navy father, Vosmaer moved to Holland in 1954 at the age of 3.

He grew up playing "street soccer" with his friends, and was soon competing for regional and national Dutch amateur teams.

Vosmaer was named the MVP of the Dutch professional soccer league Eredivisie as a rookie during the 1972-73 season, and played twice for the national team in '75 before injuring his Achilles tendon.

"I was in the group leading up to the World Cup in Argentina in 1978, but I tore my Achilles tendon, and in those days, that was about 8-10 months recuperation," Vosmaer said.

"After it all healed up and I was ready to roll, I tore it again in the first game I played, and it was another year gone. That cut my career in Europe basically."

Vosmaer moved to the United States in 1980, where he went on to play for several North American soccer teams, including the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).

Vosmaer, who also serves as president of the Pittsburgh-based North Stars Soccer Club, said he does not wonder what his soccer career could have been had he avoided injury, and is fortunate to have been given the chances he has had in life.

"I don't live my life [thinking 'What if?'], because I have a beautiful family right now," Vosmaer said. "If I had been successful and [had not gotten] injured, I would have never met my wife, would never have the family that I have right now.

"I enjoyed the time I had at that level. For me, it's just satisfying to know that I could play at the highest level and was respected as a player at the highest level."

And even if it was only twice, the feeling of representing one's country was enough for Vosmaer.

"Just the pride to play for your country [is what I remember]," he said.

"Because here you are in a group of 16 in a nation with millions of people, and you're one of the chosen few, so to speak, that's a big thing."

Vosmaer said reaching the finals is an accomplishment to be proud of in and of itself.

"At least they were there, you can look at it that way too," Vosmaer said.

"Now you have four years to worry about the next chance, but if people say, 'Would you like to be at the final in Brazil [in 2014]?' I'd sign on the dotted line right now."

First Published: July 13, 2010, 4:00 a.m.