Oranje’s future: what we need!

Time to move on. And no, I will not start this with “The Future is Bright”. How many times did I start a post tournament post here with these words. But we need more.

So, what needs to change and what is ok and needs to be further strengthened.

Quick and dirty:

Dutch Football Philosophy? Nothing wrong with that. Lets strengthen it.

Technical and Tactical Quality of Dutch Players? Football qualities are perfect.

Mental strength and personality of players: Needs strengthening

Coaching Quality: Needs serious work!

Technical Management KNVB: Needs serious work, but with Nigel de Jong on board, I have faith.

Implementation of Dutch Football Philosophy: NEEDS SERIOUS WORK!

A look at the squad for the next 4 years….

We don’t need to worry about quality players, as mentioned. We will have more than decent goalies, in Verbruggen, Roefs, Billow, Olij… In the defensive line, we can miss Virgil and De Vrij. Dumfries will be the oldest player once Memphis and Van Dijk take their bows.

With De Ligt, Timber, Van Hecke, Botman, Van de Ven, Hato, Geertruida, Nijland, Teze, Janse we have more than enough quality at the back.

Midfield is also not a big issue, when Schouten and Simons are back in the fold and Kees Smit, Valente and Steur will keep on developing. Ken Taylor is an option too of course.

Up front, we are light, but Summerville is a tremendous option – finally – for the right wing and Gakpo, Lang, Van Bommel and other can battle for the left winger role.

Centrally, with Emegha, Meerdink, Van Persie and even Guus Til, we are a bit lean but still, there’s options. And if all fail, we can always ask Daley Blind to come back.

I don’t think the players are the issue

Nigel de Jong recently came out saying that “things will need to change” and I can only see this as a little poke towards Koeman and the people who decided on the coaching before Nigel.

Koeman was there already of course and De Jong will have had to bite his tongue, but I expect the former Man City midfielder to make a difference now. And don’t forget: the ultimate baller Clarence Seedorf is a KNVB director now, so we have to expect positive changes.

In terms of implementation of that erstwhile grand Dutch football identity, we need to find the right coach to lead the charge.

But before we select a coach, Nigel and his people will have to find a way to marry the Dutch identity with the modern day demands of top football.

Here are the key football trends I’m seeing from the Champions League and WC 2026 so far, with implications for Oranje:

1. High-Intensity Counter-Pressing (Gegenpressing) & Transitions

• Teams that win the ball high and immediately counter-attack are dominating. Low blocks are vulnerable; quick verticality and chaos creation pay off.
• For Netherlands: Emphasize aggressive pressing triggers and quick transitions. Frenkie de Jong thrives in space — build systems that give him options to break lines rather than static possession. Players who cannot deliver on this, particularly forwards, should not start (Memphis, Weghorst).

2. Return of 4-4-2 / Balanced Midfields & Fluidity

• Many successful sides use compact 4-4-2 or variations for defensive solidity + quick attacks. Midfields are more fluid/dynamic, with players rotating roles.
• For Netherlands: Move away from overly possession-heavy or rigid setups. Hybrid systems with two holding mids + creative 10s could suit the current squad better than pure 4-3-3. As I mentioned after the Morocco debacle: why not use a 4-4-2 if you are afraid of Hakimi. Use Gakpo and Summerville as speedy forwards and use Reijnders and someone like Timber to stack the midfield and have Reijnders be the false 9. AC Milan and Oranje 1988 had success with an attacking 4-4-2.

3. Set-Pieces & Delivery from Wide Areas

• Corners, throw-ins, and inswinging crosses are decisive. Teams prepare them meticulously.
• For Netherlands: Invest heavily in set-piece specialists. Use tall, athletic players (Gakpo, Van de Ven, De Ligt types) more effectively in attack.

4. Impact of Substitutes & Squad Depth

• Fresh legs change games late. Managers treat squads as larger units with high rotation.
• For Netherlands: Build depth and fitness models for high-intensity, multi-phase matches. Avoid over-relying on starters.

5. Evolution of Positional Play

• Rigid positional play is being challenged by man-marking and aggressive pressing. Principles over patterns: adaptability, decision-making under pressure, and “playing what is in front of you.”
• For Netherlands: Keep the technical foundation but add more pragmatism, directness, and chaos management. Avoid being “too Dutch” (over-passing in tight spaces). Van Gaal was notorious for rigid positional play. Memphis was instructed not to leave a certain area, while he was at Man United under Van Gaal. Enrique at PSG showed us how it is done.

6. Goalkeepers as Playmakers & Build-Up from Back

• Modern keepers initiate attacks; defensive lines are higher.
• For Netherlands: Continue developing distribution from the back (e.g., Verbruggen, Roefs are excellent with their feet and so is Flekken).

Overall Philosophy Recommendation: A pragmatic, high-pressing 4-2-3-1 or hybrid 4-4-2 that blends Dutch technical quality with Premier League-style intensity and adaptability. Focus on winning duels, quick transitions, set-pieces, and squad management. The era rewards teams that are hard to play against and clinical in moments — not just beautiful possession.

Build-up play, forward passes, through balls, and runs in behind are areas where the Dutch NT can modernize while staying true to its DNA of technical quality and spatial awareness. Here’s how current trends (from CL and WC 2026) apply, with practical recommendations:

Current Trends in Build-Up & Progression

• Shorter, patient build-up from the back is still common, but successful teams combine it with quick verticality when opportunities arise. Goalkeepers and CBs are expected to play progressive passes under pressure. Our new coach needs to select defenders on their ability to play the vertical pass. Van Dijk: not so good, Van Hecke: way better.
• Through balls and runs in behind are highly valued — teams that create and exploit “pockets” or half-spaces with timed runs are dangerous. Static possession is punished by aggressive pressing. We need players who run deep.
• Midfielders as connectors: Players like Frenkie de Jong excel when given options to play forward. Isolated midfielders get crowded out (as seen vs. Morocco).

Recommendations for an Improved Dutch Philosophy

1. Structured yet Fluid Build-Up:
   • Use a 4-2-3-1 or hybrid 4-3-3 with one deep-lying playmaker (e.g., de Jong or Gravenberch) and another more box-to-box.
   • Encourage CBs/full-backs to step into midfield for numerical superiority in build-up, then quickly release forward passes.
   • Goal: Progress the ball into the middle third rapidly rather than sideways passing in your own half.
2. Emphasize Forward Passes & Through Balls:
   • Train line-breaking passes as a core principle. De Jong’s vision is world-class — design patterns that give him clear lanes (e.g., full-backs overlapping or wingers making diagonal runs).
   • Drills: “Pass and move” with emphasis on third-man combinations and quick one-twos to create space for through balls.
   • Reward risk: Encourage progressive actions over safe sideways play.
3. Coordinated Runs in Behind:
   • Develop timing and synchronization — strikers/wingers making curved or blind-side runs to exploit spaces behind the opposition’s defensive line.
   • Use the “false 9” or mobile forwards (Gakpo-style) who drop deep to create space, then burst in behind.
   • Tactical trigger: When the opposition presses high, immediately look for the vertical option rather than recycling possession.

Practical Training & Tactical Adjustments

• High Press Resistance: Build-up must handle aggressive counter-pressing. Train “escape passes” and rotations to avoid being crowded in midfield.
• Positional Rotations: Players interchange roles fluidly (e.g., midfielders pushing higher, wingers tucking in) to create overloads and passing lanes.
• Data-Driven: Use metrics like progressive passes, passes into the final third, and successful through balls to measure improvement.
• Squad Fit: Leverage technical players (de Jong, Reijnders, Simons) for creation, while adding athletic runners (e.g., Dumfries, Malen) for the “in behind” threat.

This approach would make Oranje harder to press, more vertically dangerous, and true to its creative heritage — without being predictable or overly possession-obsessed. It addresses the “crowded midfield” issue by creating better structure and movement.

Personalities and Characters

Winning teams need personalities. Call it “winners” or “grinta”. We used to have these. Cruyff, Van Hanegem, Gullit, Wouters, Sneijder, Van Bommel… Most successful nations have or used to have them. Enzo Fernandez, Erling Haaland, Granit Xhaka, Gattuso, Roy Keane, Lothar Mattheus, Hierro, Pepe…

I think we miss these, at the moment. I think Van Hecke has it. Apparently, it is why Marten de Roon is liked by most coaches. But otherwise. Why don’t we have these guys anymore?

What changed?

• Cultural Changes: Dutch society is more consensus-oriented and less hierarchical. Youth development emphasizes technique and creativity over old-school grit.
• Modern Game: High pressing and physical demands reward athletes like Haaland. The Eredivisie is technical but less physically intense than Premier League or Bundesliga.
• Squad Dynamics: Current generation is talented but perhaps lacks the dominant alpha personalities of the past. Success in clubs (e.g., de Jong at Barcelona) shows capability, but international consistency lags.
• Perfect circumstances: in the olden days, our pitches were mud, our balls were heavy, the tackles were fierce and youth players had to bike for 30 minutes to get to the club. Today, pitches are perfect, balls are light, we get offended by anything, and the club bus will pick the youthful talents up from their homes.

Not all “soft”: Players like Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries, or Brian Brobbey bring physicality. The issue is often collective mentality and leadership on the pitch.

A new coach could address this by demanding more intensity, vocal accountability, and “street smarts” alongside the Dutch technical base — blending the old fire with modern athleticism. It’s fixable, but requires cultural buy-in. And it requires a coach who will demand it.

“Winning mentality versus de mantel der liefde” is a sharp way to frame a real cultural tension in Dutch football (and society).

De Mantel der Liefde

This Dutch expression means “covering with the mantle of love” — a tendency toward tolerance, consensus, avoiding direct confrontation, and smoothing over problems to maintain harmony. It’s polite, empathetic, and socially cohesive, but it can lead to:

• Not calling out underperformance or tactical errors clearly.
• Prioritizing “team spirit” over ruthless accountability.
• Hesitation to make tough decisions (e.g., dropping big names or demanding more intensity).

In the NT context, this can manifest as players/coaches being too nice about mistakes, avoiding public criticism, or accepting “we did our best” after losses instead of demanding more. Did Frenkie, or Virgil or Denzel speak up against Koeman?

Winning Mentality

This is the opposite: relentless drive, high standards, brutal honesty, and a “no excuses” culture. Think:

• CR7 or Haaland’s obsession with winning and self-improvement.
• Leaders who confront issues head-on (like Xhaka’s intensity or Sneijder/Gullit’s outspokenness in the past).

It prioritizes results over feelings, demands accountability, and fosters a culture where mediocrity isn’t tolerated.

The Dutch Tension

The Netherlands excels at technical beauty and creativity but has often fallen short in major tournaments due to this balance. The “mantel” helps with squad harmony (less drama than some nations), but it can blunt the edge needed against ultra-competitive sides. Past successes (1988 Euros, 1970s WC runs) came when strong personalities (Cruyff, Van Hanegem, Gullit, van Basten) injected winning ruthlessness.

Modern Challenge: Current players are talented and likeable, but the team sometimes lacks that killer instinct or vocal leadership when things go wrong. A new coach could bridge this by:

• Encouraging constructive confrontation and accountability (without toxicity).
• Building a “ruthless harmony” — high standards delivered with Dutch pragmatism.
• Selecting or developing players with more “edge” alongside the technicians.

It’s not either/or — the best teams blend both: Dutch creativity + a winning edge. Finding that mix is key to ending the “always the bridesmaid” narrative.

And once Nigel de Jong and director Clarence Seedorf have realised all this, this should become the new protocol for Oranje and should form the basis for the selection of the new coaching staff.