Japanese people are generally considered to be very polite. I can only imagine there will be a national holiday soon, the Koeman Day.
One would expect that after Dick Advocaat’s atrocious substitution back in 2004, every Dutch coach would be loath to get into the same position. You’d expect this to be in lesson 2 of the Dutch coaching course: “Do not sub your danger man if you’re only 1 goal up!”
Robben must have vomitted violently when watching the Dutch versus Japan as he probably couldn’t believe his eyes.
We were on course to get 3 points in our opening match versus a strong Japan. Koeman prepared the side perfectly, recognising the space behind Japan’s wing backs. When playing against a team with 5 at the back, you want to play as wide as possible and use the space behind the backs, limiting them to attack you. The game plan worked well.
Sure, the first 45 minutes weren’t amazing, but we were in control. The Japanese were happy to sit back and go forward only a couple of times, with some very sloppy overhit crosses and corner kicks. Clearly, some stress in the muscles of the Japan players.
From the first minute, our intentions were clear resulting in a decent move with a Malen shot on target. The Roma striker would work the goalie one more time later in the first half, with a header. We couldn’t do much more than that but clearly controlled proceedings.
Frenkie was his usual busy self, while Gakpo and Summerville did their jobs really well out wide. Van Hecke was the man allowed to do the build up and he too seemed very comfortable.
Koeman used Gravenberch and Reijnders as double 10s and played Frenkie as the lone 6, which worked well without the ball, although we all expected more from these two 10s on the ball, most likely.
Second half
In the second half, the pace went up a bit and we got Gravenberch more into the game. It would be a set piece that broke the deadlock.
Reijders kick was defended but in the second phase, the Liverpool midfielder crossed the ball into the box where Virgil was waiting and placed the ball into the far corner, as if he played a drop shot at tennis.
A Captains goal right when we needed it. Sadly, it was a Van Hecke own goal that got Japan back into it, also from a second phase after a Japan attack, with Van Hecke trying to block the ball but instead taking away any chance Verbruggen had to block the shot.
Somehow, it didn’t seem too drastic, as we were still on top of the game and as the game opened up, you knew Summerville, Malen and/or Gakpo would find way to hurt the opponent.
And that is exactly what happened. Another good move by Gravenberch and Summerville did a “Robben”, curling the ball into the far corner for his first goal in Oranje. Great to see him sprint to assistant coach Van Nistelrooy, who became a bit of a mentor to him.
It was fun to see how the whole team including the assistant coaches and physios were celebrating while coach Koeman was standing outside of the group, clearly ignored by the rest. Signs of things to come.
Koeman must have also felt Summerville resembled Robben and decided to sub the mercurial winger, for a midfielder. With 25 minutes or so to go, the former Everton manager felt it was time to bring defensive re-inforcements taking all the speed out of the team (Malen and Summerville). Depay was brought on and it was actually quite sad to see him struggling in those last minutes.
Koopmeiners and Timber were supposed to shore up matters, but instead, the Oranje system broke down and invited the pressure from Japan. Any one with half a brain would have known that Japan would have nothing to lose and would attack. What you need in those situations, is one or two fast sprinters up front. Players like…. Malen and Summerville. Or even Lang could do.
Koeman would defend his subs with the explanation that we were not longer able to hold on to the ball, but this is a fake story. Right before the drink pause in the second half, Gakpo almost scored our third and Oranje was completely in control.
Normally, the 3-1 would be more likely than the 2-2. After the changes, Holland invited the pressure and lack of aggressive defending by Van de Ven on the left. Where Dumfries pushed up when he could, Van de Ven defended more passively, and with Gakpo slowly losing energy, the left side of Oranje became more vulnerable.
Koeman spotted the danger and decided to bring Ake to strengthen the left side. Koeman tried to solve the symptom but didn’t do this by tackling the actual issue: the lack of pressure by Memphis and Gakpo, and the passive style of Van de Ven.
The Spurs player usually plays centre back and in that role, sitting is more the custom than pushing up, like Dumfries did. And due to the fact that our fast forwards were replaced by not-so-fast players resulting in Japan having more courage to push players up the field.
With Reijnders and Gravenberch gone, the midfield was broken. When Gakpo was subbed by Brobbey, Japan started to smell more chances. The lack of pressure on the wing (Brobbey went central up front), the Japanese got more impetus to attack via their wings.
Our forwards were Memphis and Koopmeiners and both played more on the inside than on the wide side. The lack of depth and runs in behind were a godsend for Japan and they clearly revelled in that new situation.
The defensive changes created some confusion as well as Koeman was gesticulating and screaming to this players to go to 5-3-2. Koeman probably expect to survive crosses from the wings, as our defenders are all at least a head taller than the Japanese forwards, but still they scored from a cross.
Van de Ven was instructed to protect the zone and when Japan used a block very successfully to stop Van Dijk from intervening, Japan was able to head the ball – with some fortune – behind Verbruggen.
Bottom line, a decent Oranje game was completely unraveled due to three unnecessary substitutions, totally forsaking control over the game.
How I would love to be a fly on the wall when Koeman and Co do the first WC 2026 post-match de-brief….
So disappointing to watch the ending of that game. Despite the concerns of this team coming into this tournament, I was slightly optimistic and hoping they have a clean slate. My feeling is that something like what happened vs Japan was bound to happen at some point in the tournament.
Dutch teams are happy to dominate possession, but the minute they have to play defense, the concentration is gone, opposition players aren’t properly marked, or they leave dangerous spaces between players, and so on. In the past, we had bad defenders, but now, these defensive lapses happen from time to time at crucial moments. Now you have a team that has a problem creating and finishing chances, a defense that is not airtight, and a manager that is stubborn when things don’t work and literally shoots himself on the foot.
And Van Dijk after praising him for the opener, mistimed his jump to give a clean header to a 5’11/180cm Kamada, who couldn’t believe his luck standing next to Van Dijk. He made no mistake with that header. Verbruggen had a hand on it but not enough to keep it out.
To make matters worse, Tunisia basically rolled over and gave Sweden a +4 goal differential. We now have a must win situation vs a Sweden team that looks confident and on target after this nice tune up.
I’m seeing a trend with Gakpo kinda following Memphis. Memphis got a nice 2014 WC where he introduced himself to the world. LVG then brought him to Man Utd where he flopped and left. Gakpo had a great 2022 WC and then goes to Liverpool under Klopp. He did the same thing at Liverpool this past season where he should have been benched. Except Slot kept picking him week after week which eventually cost him his job. Memphis basically never lived up to the hype. Never consistently scored or improved. Basically plateaued. And Gakpo faces that same predicament. The Japanese did a masterclass on shutting him down with a double team for most of the game. Stubborn Koeman can’t tell him to change position and maybe play central striker. He can’t do any worse than Malen or worse Memphis. Move Summerville to his natural left wing, and play someone else on the right.
Next game isn’t gonna be easy. Isak looks healthy and sharp, and Gyokores also is a danger. Plus they have others that can do damage. At this point, I’m just resigned to whatever happens.. will happen mode.
“Van Dijk after praising him for the opener, mistimed his jump to give a clean header to a 5’11/180cm Kamada”
https://x.com/JUN_SHR/status/2066355923267076168
They got creative……
I’m in agreement with just about everything you said 😃
Honestly I like the first half, we limit Japan’s dangerous counters and run from deep, by circulating the balls (though some considered them boring lateral passes) around purposely to look for opportunities to hurt Japan. And we did have few good chances!
I yet to watch the second half, but I got to say that if the substitutions were staggered out, instead of many at a time, the team would have settled down better. Intriducing many at one go disrupted the team rhythm apparently, and not when not all were playing bad or tiring. For those who play the game, we all know about that surely.
Sweden game is a potential banana skin. Sweden win will see them qualified right away. Likewise for a Japan win Vs Tunisia. And we are left sweating for a third finishing. This doesn’t sound an impossible scenario isn’t. I am honestly worried.
Just Relax buddy,even with koeman stuipidity we will beat sweden.
Agree that this was all about Koeman’s choices with the subs. I can’t even say it was about Koeman’s “tactics” because nothing he did here could be seen as a coherent tactic.
Agree 🤣🤣🤣
I honestly don’t think the players knew what they were supposed to be doing when he brought Memphis, Koopmeiners and Timber together. And our confusion allowed Japan to gain a foothold. I always feel like we should try to play on the front foot, and so I normally would never go defensive. But this seemed like both an ultra-defensive and inept tactical decision by Koeman
It’s also not really a “defensive” strategy, in my mind, if you just throw on another defender— because there are systems in place and the fifth guy doesn’t fit the system. I think it adds confusion— if you’re van de Ven, now you have to think, even for a split second, if you’re supposed to get a guy or a cross or if Ake is on it. It’s just dumb. I can see swapping vdV for Ake or Dumfries for Geertruida (telling the subs to stay home, not attack), but not just add an extra guy. Not to mention that taking out our best defensive mids…
Exactly. You end up disrupting your own system for really no reason
@ Anthony
Who’s clueless now? You or Koeman????
Offcourse koeman First.
Who is Anthony?
So many tactical decisions about this team that still don’t make any sense to me. De Jong is our most gifted and intelligent player on the field. I still don’t understand why he is playing as a # 6. Why is he playing as an extra defender when he could bring so much in offense. He could pass, run and dribble.
Yep, Wieffer as 6 can work, but would you sacrifice Gravenberch? I think Frenkie as our 6 is fine. I think Koeman got it wrong with playing Reijnders (passing, running) instead of Kluivert ( dribbles, one-twos with Malen). And of course, taking the runners off after an hour or so, bad form. Could have subbed one of them but not Summerville. Til would have been perfect with his running and work rate. Why Koopmeiners??
Unleash gravenberch as no10 or AM…let Frenkie and weiffer handle the balancing role..Also Geetruida as RB could play as inverted RB hence support mid and help Summerville..we will have better game.
Agree with the above, Jan, and with your overall summary of the match. I didn’t understand the Koopmeiners substitution at all, and he didn’t seem to either.
Summerville was fantastic and was our most reliable and creative option going forward. I don’t know that he can do it game in and game out, but I’d almost rather build around his strengths at this point and include players that work well with him.
Gravenberch got better as the game went on and he got more of the ball. Reijnders was good on set pieces but not much other involvement. Gakpo is like an ineffective right footed Robben. All of the same predictability, but none of the same explosiveness or output.
We play “stifled”, “tactical” and cautious under Koeman, and I think the teams that will have the most success in this WC are the ones who really go for it
Bench Reinders not gravenberch
So we have 6 unfit players (includes players who haven’t played in the top level for various reasons) in our squad size of 26. So we only have 17 outfield players in a tournament that will be played in grueling heat. If that is what we did in an air-conditioned stadium, imagine what will happen when the conditions get worse (3rd game onwards).
Who picked this team? Jan, by mentioning Koeman’s Everton’s connection, you brought back scary memories. More importantly, who picked this coach?
World Cup
World Cup head coach ruthlessly fired just one game into tournament — ‘
Tunisia head coach got fire.
This is what happens when a Country cares ok
Koeman has been around for almost 4 years now.
I actually had a little daydream of Koeman walking and Ruud v Nistelrooy taking over. Did you see how the players celebrated Summerville’s goal with the coaches, but Koeman was left out cold?
Honestly, the tactics of the first 70 minutes worked. IT was not flowing or attacking but that is due to 1) opening game, 2) Japan and 3) calculating (i.e. you don’t want to lose and once you have a result, the next games become easier).
I thought Van Hecke, Frenkie and Summerville were playing well in the first half. Second half was all Gravenberch.
Once we had the 2-1 I was convinced Japan would attack and take risks and with speed up front (Summerville, or Lang or Til or Malen) we would score the 3-1 and maybe 4-1.
But the defensive changes said “come on Japan, have a go!”
Spot on!
Now, I confess I never played football, but what I don’t get is the way we “played” after the 2-1. Ok, Japan was pressing, but surely we could have found a way to keep the ball more than five seconds at a time, right? RIGHT?
Yep
It would have been more logical instead of Memphis bring Guus Til. But for sure Koeman wanted to give time to Memphis, but he should have done that during training, not in the game……
On the positive side, now Koeman learned that Memphis is far from being fit….
You don’t trip over the same stone twice….. (een koe stoot zich geen twee keer aan dezelfde steen 😉
Speaking of tripping over the same stone twice, they have been stumbling over the “late goal” stone way too much: Germany, Spain, Poland, Algeria, Uzbekistan, and, now, Japan. Whatever are his ideas,, they are not working.
I don’t have a problem if Koeman wanted to be more cautious and preserve the lead. By cautious, I don’t mean park the bus. It basically means, you assume a more defensive posture but still keep possession, and counterattack when you get a chance. Keep the opposition honest so they don’t overload on their attack and pin you in the back.
A lot of teams/managers do that, and it works for them. The problem is that he brought on the wrong people, and played them in the wrong positions. And a large change totally disrupted the flow and chemistry. It happened in the Algeria game. At one point Frenkie and the first half squad were doing well, and then Koeman made the changes that disrupted it. You could easily see it.
And yes, I agree if Koeman has any brain cells left, he wont bring on Memphis in any close competitive games. The guy came on the 70 min or something, and was gassed out within 10 mins. And that was in a nice airconditioned field. Also play people in their natural positions to get the most out of them.
My biggest change has to be moving Gakpo to the center. I really do like strong, big, and tough tackling defensive midfielders with good forward passing and distribution skills. Sweden plays with two big and tall strikers, so the back four absolutely needs cover. 4-3-3 is not the way to go vs Sweden. One of the front 3 have to give way for a DM. Gravenberch can play that 6 role, but I feel we need him a bit more forward. Not sure how good Wieffer is in that role. Maybe Koopmieners at the 6?
Koeman loves Dumfries, so he probably will be in the team. He was overlapping with Summerville and crowding out that space. He needed to stay a bit back. Play RB, but we have seen him get exposed at times in that position. Mourinho now will have him backup or competing with TAA at Real next season.
Basically a 442 or 352. Anything but a 443. You guys can pick who plays where.
Personally I would try Brobbey instead of Malen
I know Koeman most likely wont drop Gakpo and Dumfries.
Gakpo/Malen up top
Frenkie / Summerville
Gravenberch/ Koopmeiners/
VdVen / VVD / VH / Dumfries
Verbruggen
I agree with the 4-4-2 but I would see it as a fluid shape, with 3-4-3 at times.
Frenkie can drop back between v Hecke and V Dijk and start our build up. Van de Ven and Dumfries playing wide, with Gravenberch and Reijnders/Kluivert in the middle and Summerville, Malen, Gakpo on top.
I still haven’t seen the other big names like Argentina, or Portugal, or England, but after watching most of the so called top teams so far, including France now playing vs Senegal, there isn’t a single impressive or scary one. Spain was held to a draw by Cape Verde. That was a defensive and goalkeeping masterpiece by Cape Verde.
I feel like this tournament is open to whoever wants is so bad, works their hearts out for 90 min+, and has a decent manager/strategy that works with the personnel they have. Still too early and a lot may change, but we shall see.
Yes, the so called “smaller countries” have impressed me, even Iran and Iraq. France looked lethal though and MBappe seems to be happy in the team.
It’s an interesting tournament so far.
I went to the match, my first Oranje match in person, amazing atmosphere outside, inside the stadium and our assigned Oranje fans Suite. That said, I do have to say the Japanese fans are as loud as ours, and they did this “Nippon …. Nippon …. “ chants for almost the full match.
Nothing much to add about Koeman’s strategy (or lack thereof), some baffling substitutions: Depay and Timber. Depay was a disgrace, not only he didn’t contribute, I think he also unnecessarily hit a Japanese player way out of danger area, he was lucky he didn’t get a Red card.
To me, Gravenberch in 2H was our best player but perhaps he and Frenkie should try to switch roles? (More attacking for Frenkie and defending/holding for Gravenberch?)
I will also be going to the next match vs Sweden in Houston on Sat. It will be very nerve wrecking because Sweden now has the upper hands. We have no choice but to win. Some neutral friends commented “the Dutch players did not seem to want to be there ….” which really bothered me because I sensed that.
Many of you have come up with tactical suggestions, many of which I think are great. I do know we cannot continue with the way we played vs Japan and hope we have a chance. Depay cannot play one more minute in this tournament.
Hup Holland Hup!
Maybe we got unlucky Memphis didn´t get a red card…..
Fair 🤣
HedonistiX I am going to my first Oranje game after bleeding Oranje since 1994. I’m arriving Friday at 10 am local time. Do you know the local bars the Oranje fans are hanging out at? So far I have looked up Texas T Tavern and Pitch 25 as potential places to hang on Friday ahead of the game. I heard the Oranje Bus will be at Rice University at 8 am on game day to make its way to the stadium. Could you post the places I can meet up in orange to add my support? Thanks-Super bedankt!
Hi Vreuls,
I don’t live in Houston so not familar with spots where Oranje fans will gather but the route from Rice to stadium should be a good start to meet and ask other fans.
Unfortunately I have to drive back up to Dallas Metroplex after the match, which will be a painfully long drive if we tie or lose this Sat. Our fault to put ourselves in this situation by throwing the points vs Japan.
Hup Holland Hup!
Not sure how this match will turn out, but so far enjoying watching Austria playing with urgency, both in attack and defense. Actively trying to score and then pressing to win the ball back. It’s refreshing to see a team look like they actually want to play prior to their opponent scoring a goal…
And just as I finish typing, Austria scores! 😃
You’re right, just as ion the Euros, Austria has bite and energy in them. But Jordan is starting to come into the game. Its a fun match to watch.
Agree! This is the only match I’ve been able to watch today and also the one I expected to be the least interesting, but I’m fully engaged watching now 😉
Messi looks as good as ever. He was even defending with energy and vigor. He feels fully liberated. You can see it in his face that he’s enjoying the game. All those doubts, criticisms, demons of his pre-Qatar days are gone. The Argentine fans now take over cities. Literally pack the entire stadium.
He had a hat trick vs Algeria, a team that beat us just a few days ago. It shows you how finishing your early opportunities will open up the game for you. And also Scaloni finally figured out how to make this team work for Messi that past coaches/managers couldn’t.
As good as Argentina looked, I have to say it’s all revolves around Messi. It’s both a blessing and a curse. Good teams will find a way to effectively man-mark him at all times, cut off his passing lanes, play physical, or whatever is needed.
Another action packed schedule today. This will be the last day for Round 1. We shall see England, Portugal, Colombia, and the rest.
By the way, Messi’s first goal is the kind of goal that De Jong could have scored days in and days out. De Jong is not being used to his full potential. Snijder scored a similar goal against Scotland in his earlier years. And his goal was farther outside.
De Jong’s problem is a coach problem. De Jong playing as a six is a waste in my opinion. De Jong has all the qualities to play like a Modric or Snijder and scoring goals. When he moved abroad, had he went to City and played for Guardiola, it would have been a different story.
DRC just tied Portugal (1-1). Fun match. With all these less thought of teams—Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, Bosnia Herzegovian, DRC, Qatar, Egypt, Australia, so far—getting results against favorites, 4 group points may not be a guarantee to advance.
Portugal did not look good at all. No fluidity, not much chemistry, no combination passes. Ronaldo at this age looks more like a spiritual support for the team than a potent scary figure he used to be. He seemed to have regressed a lot, while Messi looked very lively and on point.
England on the other had dominated Croatia. They were coming in wave after wave of attacks. They always had big names going into tournaments to crash and burn eventually. But based solely on today’s performance, they played really well. If it wasn’t for Croatia’s goalkeeper, this would have been a rout. They still looked suspect in the back, but maybe Tuchel is finally making them click. Even the bench is stacked. Croatia isn’t what they used to be, but it’s still a respectable team.
Anyways, we shall see.
Watching England vs. Croatia reminded me of the Netherlands vs. Japan game. England were ahead, but Livakovic kept Croatia in it for a long time, same as Zion Suzuki. The difference was what happened when the substitutes came on. England’s subs injected energy and intensity into the match, while the Dutch subs looked like they were just going through the motions.
Of course, England’s bench has more quality, but Japan also replaced Kubo and several of their key players. In the end, it came down to who wanted it more. The Japanese substitutes played with urgency and hunger; the Dutch substitutes didn’t.
We could have brought players like Smits, Frimpong, Poku, or Flemming—guys who are hungry to prove themselves. Maybe not all of them will become stars, but they could have provided the same kind of energy that players like Fer, De Guzman, and even the younger version of Depay brought to the team in 2014. Sometimes fresh legs and desire matter more than reputation, or may I call false reputation because only the Dutch coaches believe so.
Agree. Koeman may have been a great player, but is horrible as a coach/manager. He flopped at Barca, he flopped at Everton. If you look the current Dutch managers, they aren’t faring good either. I strongly believe Slot would have stayed if he had at least edged Villa for the top 4. Even if the players were not on board, management would have at least backed him somehow.
And Ten Hag got fired after just 3 games at Leverkussen! Main cause of that was a players revolt. Complaints about his training methods and leadership style. Basically lost the dressing room right away. Same with De Boer. After wrecking Inter and Crystal Palace, he did the same to Oranje.
That’s why I strongly believe it maybe better to go with a foreign coach next. There’s no guarantee that would lead to success, but someone proven like Tuchel may work. Tuchel himself has a reputation for both good and bad. He’s a perfectionist, intense prep, great tactician, but also abrasive, insulting, and short tempered that rubs a lot of people the wrong way. But at least, his resume at the club level and reputation from peers like Guardiola, Klopp etc gives him credibility.
Anyways, yes, those young and hungry players would have helped this team. Leaving Frimpong and Flemming specially was very ignorant. It would have been a good mix of youth and experience. Right now, Malen isn’t really working, and Memphis is done. That leaves Brobbey and Weghorst at true strikers.
Bottom line, things need to change. I doubt the KNVB would really splash the cash and go for a successful high profile name. If it was me, I would do a nationwide fundraiser to get Guardiola or Klopp. Haha, we can wish!
As a Liverpool fan, Kloppo would be perfect for the Oranje, may be able to bring modern style of Total Football!
Agree, England attacked relentlessly with spped, power and skill; best looking team in the first round. Wonder if they can keep this standard through 8 games, though.