Author: Tarcísio Neri

by Tarcísio Neri

Andries Jonker explains Vivianne Miedema’s call-up

Vivianne Miedema’s call-up to the Dutch national team was a big surprise. The 27-year-old striker’s name appeared on Monday’s list for the two games against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League. Andries Jonker explained his decision.

Vivianne Miedema tore her anterior cruciate ligament in December during the UEFA Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais. Because of this, she was left out of the Women’s World Cup that took place in Australia and New Zealand. The return to the pitch is close for Vivianne Miedema.

“The chance of her playing against Scotland later this month is very slim. But in consultation with the Arsenal manager and Vivianne Miedema herself, we thought this was the best option. At Arsenal, all the players left for their respective national teams. Then she would train with about three players. In the Dutch team, she will be able to complete a full week of training” said Andries Jonker.

Still, Andries Jonker left the door ajar for Vivianne Miedema’s first appearance in the Dutch national team after thirteen months. If training goes well, returning remains a serious option.

“Maybe she can play a few minutes” said Andries Jonker.
For the UEFA Nations League, the Dutch team will play against Scotland on Friday, October 27, and the second game will be four days later.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Vivianne Miedema returns to the Dutch national team

The coach of the Dutch women’s team, Andries Jonker, announced the squad’s call-up for the two games against Scotland in the UEFA Nations League. The big highlight of this call-up is the return of Vivianne Miedema. The 27-year-old Arsenal striker is recovering from a serious knee injury.

Vivianne Miedema tore her anterior cruciate ligament in December during the UEFA Champions League match against Olympique Lyonnais. As a result, Vivianne Miedema missed the World Cup that was played in Australia and New Zealand. A comeback is now becoming possible for the Rotterdam-born center forward. However, the timing of the call-up is somewhat surprising because Vivianne Miedema is yet to return to play for Arsenal since her injury.

“I spoke to Vivianne Miedema and Arsenal and analyzed the possibilities. Vivianne Miedema trains with the Arsenal group and can also train with our group. If everything goes well, it is possible that I will use it in the matches against Scotland” said Andries Jonker.

For the UEFA Nations League, the Dutch team will play for the first time at home against Scotland, on Friday, October 27, and the return will be at Hampden Park four days later, in Scotland.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Netherlands has poor numbers in penalty kicks

The Dutch team won on Monday night thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s goal after a penalty kick in the final minutes of the match against Greece, but earlier in the match, Wout Weghorst had missed a penalty. The Dutch team’s numbers when it comes to taking penalties have been poor in recent years.

Since the start of the 2018 World Cup, the Dutch team has had seventeen penalties. This excludes penalty shootouts. Memphis Depay took the first 14 penalties and scored ten. Three Memphis Depay shots were saved and one shot hit the post.

Those who also took penalties for the Netherlands were Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst and Virgil van Dijk, only Wout Weghorst wasted. This means that the Netherlands converted twelve of the seventeen penalties, an average of 70%. Compared to other top teams, this is a low score. Only Spain has performed worse in the last five years.

It was impressive that Virgil van Dijk took the penalty against Greece because he had missed an important penalty in December. The defender failed in the World Cup against Argentina, in the quarter-finals.

For example, the Netherlands have scored poorly in recent years when it comes to penalties. For comparison purposes, from the beginning of this century until 2017, 27 of the 28 penalties were converted into goals. Only Ruud van Nistelrooij missed a shot in September 2005, in the game against Andorra.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Ronald Koeman brought positive news about Wout Weghorst

Ronald Koeman hopes that Wout Weghorst will be available for the duel against Greece. The striker had to be substituted in the first half against France due to an injury, but the severity of the injury appears not to be that serious.

Wout Weghorst was very important for the Dutch team in the previous match. Not only did he score the winning goal against Ireland, but he also knows what it’s like to score against the Greeks. He was one of the three scorers in the home game and also seems capable of participating in the away game.

“He just trained” said Ronald Koeman at the press conference before the crucial game against Greece in the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Germany.

“I understand that if there are no complaints from him after training today, I could count on him for tomorrow” said Ronald Koeman.

The Dutch manager declined to reveal whether the 1899 Hoffenheim striker will immediately return to the starting lineup.

“We will see that tomorrow” said Ronald Koeman.

Everyone who was available against France on Friday will also be available against Greece.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Almere City FC announce signing of Christopher Mamengi

After nine seasons wearing the FC Utrecht shirt, Christopher Mamengi leaves the Utregs and signs for three seasons with Almere City FC for the Eredivisie dispute. The Dutch defender, born in Amersfoort, will try his luck at the newly promoted club to the elite of Dutch football.

At FC Utrecht, Christopher Mamengi was unable to establish himself in the first team and accepted an offer from Zwarte Schapen to compete in the biggest competition in Dutch football. In the first team of FC Utrecht, Christopher Mamengi played only one game.

Christopher Mamengi is the fifth player to leave FC Utrecht and sign with Almere City FC in their history. He rounds out the roster with players like Jonas Arweiler, Gianluca Nijholt, Enzio Boldewijn and Leon de Kogel. The most recent player to have made this move was Jonas Arweiler who in the 2021/22 season left Stadion Galgenwaard to play at Yanmar Stadion.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Chuba Akpom signs with Ajax for five seasons

Sven Mislintat is still working to reshape AFC Ajax for this new season. The German director got a deal with Middlesbrough and the Amsterdam club announced the signing of Chuba Akpom. The English striker signs for five seasons with the Godenzonen. The Godenzonen paid 12 million and 300 thousand euros to have the 27-year-old striker.

Chuba Akpom was the main striker of the second division of England and consequently of Middlesbrough. With Boro’s shirt, Chuba Akpom scored 34 goals in 82 matches. It was at PAOK in Greece that he had the greatest streak of games. In Greece, there were 131 games played and 29 goals scored.

Formed in the youth ranks of Arsenal, he had only twelve games signed with the shirt of the Gunners. As well as playing in England and Greece, he also played in Belgium for St. Truiden.

The last time Middlesbrough had sold a player to Ajax was in the 2010/11 season when Egypt striker Mido was released to sign for Ajacieden. And this is only the third English player to wear the shirt of the Amsterdammers. Charlie Setford and Ray Clarke were the other two players who previously played for the Amsterdam side.

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by Tarcísio Neri

PSV buys Jerdy Schouten for twelve million euros

PSV Eindhoven continues to reinforce its team for this new season and mainly to seek a place in the group stage of the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League. The new reinforcement that lands in Eindhoven is the steering wheel, Jerdy Schouten. The 26-year-old Dutch midfielder leaves Italy’s Bologna for 12 million euros. Jerdy Schouten returns to Dutch football after spending four years in Italy.

In Italy, Jerdy Schouten managed to develop very well. He played over a hundred games for Bologna and scored only two goals. It was in Italy that he managed to be called up by the Dutch national team. Jerdy Schouten was revealed by ADO Den Haag and also played for SC Telstar. This is the first time that PSV has bought a player from Bologna in Italy.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Sven Zitman leaves PEC Zwolle and signs with TOP Oss

TOP Oss announced the signing of Sven Zitman from PEC Zwolle. He signs until the end of the 2024/25 season with Ossenaren and with the option of automatic renewal for another season. The expectation is that already in this weekend’s round, he can enter the field for TOP Oss.

The 21-year-old midfielder was at PEC Zwolle last season and has a contract with the Blauwvingers until the end of next season. The Zwollenaars had already informed the athlete that they would no longer count on him for the sequence of the season.

“We are extremely happy with the arrival of Sven Zitman. He will bring great strength to our team in pursuit of our goals throughout this season. He is technically very experienced and able to read the game well” said TOP Oss director of football Linton Posthumus.

“I am very happy to sign with TOP Oss. I hope to get on the field as soon as possible and I want to help TOP Oss to seek access to the Eredivisie” said Sven Zitman.

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by Tarcísio Neri

FC Twente announces reinforcement for the defensive system

FC Twente have announced the signing of Alec Van Hoorenbeeck. The 24-year-old defender stays until the end of this current season and should return to KV Mechelen in Belgium, the club to which he belongs. This is his return to the Netherlands, considering that in the 2020/21 season, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck was loaned to Helmond Sport of the Keuken Kampioen Divisie.

With the shirt of KV Mechelen, he played 55 games and did not score a single goal. At Helmond Sport, he played 39 games and scored three goals. He joins FC Twente with an option to buy at the end of his loan.

“We had been looking for a defender to play on the left for some time and with the arrival of Alec Van Hoorenbeeck we filled that gap. He also plays as a left winger. Alec Van Hoorenbeeck is comfortable with the ball at his feet, is quick and has good stature. We are sure that he will quickly adapt to the club and to Dutch football” said FC Twente Director Arnold Bruggink.

The last time FC Twente had a Belgian in its squad was between 2017 and 2020, when Jorn Brondeel left Belgium’s Lierse SK and played only 21 games during that period. In August 2020, he was released and signed for Willem II. And the last time KV Mechelen sent a player to FC Twente was in the 1999/00 season, when Jan Verlinden was sold to the Enschede club.

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by Tarcísio Neri

Roy Kuijpers is the new signing of NAC Breda

After a year and a half defending the colors of RKC Waalwijk, Roy Kuijpers leaves the Mandemakers Stadion to sign with NAC Breda and return to compete in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie. At the age of 23, Roy Kuijpers signs until the end of the 2024/25 season, with the option of automatic renewal for another season.

In that one and a half year with the Waalwijkers shirt, Roy Kuijpers played 31 games and scored three goals. Furthermore, he was part of the squad that kept RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie during these last two seasons.

Before arriving at RKC Waalwijk, Roy Kuijpers was featured with FC Den Bosch in the Dutch second division. He also played 31 games for the White and Blue Dragons and scored twelve goals.

The last player who made this move to leave RKC Waalwijk and sign with NAC Breda was the German center forward Mario Bilate in the 2020/21 season.

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