Although Emanuelson hasn't been called up to the national team for two years, he hope his performance would earn him a spot in the World Cup. However, he never made the cut. On 28 July 2010 Emanuelson was called up to the Netherlands squad for the first time in two years. He made his first appearances in two years, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Ukraine on 11 August 2010. His next appearances for the national side came on 29 March 2011 against Hungary, coming on as a 64th minute substitute, in a 3–2 win.