Are the Dutch going to play against the best team of the world?
Apart from Dumfries & Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale), Nathan Aké (Manchester City) and Jerdy Schouten (PSV) Ronald Koeman can count on a fit selection for the quarter finals of the Nations League against Spain.
The only thing the national coach could do at the traditional press conference was to cross himself. He knows at that moment: if the damage is assessed on Monday morning and the result is not too bad, he has a fine selection at his disposal, certainly defensively and in midfield, two lines where the problems were not there anyway.
However, a top fit Frenkie de Jong ensures one less problem on the ball. The playmaker is in such shape that he has regained his starting place at Barcelona. Last night he missed the match against Atlético due to discomfort, but he is available for the Dutch national team.
It is more interesting up front. Memphis Depay is returning. Koeman flew to Brazil with director of Top Football Nigel de Jong to speak to the striker and to hear how Depay himself felt about a return to the Dutch national team.
The striker is willing. He only needs a few more goals to become the all-time top scorer of the Dutch national team and is fitter than ever.
Due to a lack of competition – Brian Brobbey (Ajax, selected) and Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United, not called) squandered Depay’s legacy – Koeman had no choice but to select him again.
Also back in the selection: Noa Lang. The PSV player is fit and although not in the best phase, he is a player who can make the difference on the ball.
The same applies to the man in form at Bournemouth, Justin Kluivert, who makes his appearance in the selection as an attacking midfielder. Xavi Simons is also returning, with a goal against Borussia Dortmund under his belt.
This means that Koeman at least has speed and creativity at his disposal. With Gakpo, he could opt for a flexible attack, but Depay is not flying all the way from São Paulo to sit on the bench.
Defensively strong, with captain Virgil van Dijk in top form, combined with a fit Frenkie de Jong and speed and quality up front, Koeman has a selection with which he can perform. Spain suddenly feels like a new start, after an inconsistent year.
In terms of results, the Netherlands did not do so badly, with a semi-final at the European Championship and qualification for the quarter-finals of the Nations League, but these performances did not come about with good football.
The matches against Austria (3-2 defeat) during the European Championship and Germany (1-0 defeat) last November in Munich, when the Dutch were blown off the field by teams that were technically, tactically, physically and mentally better, are just as memorable.
Spain is also that in principle, because the Netherlands will face the reigning European and Nations League champions on Thursday in De Kuip and on Sunday in Mestalla.
National coach Koeman believes that his team has a chance, especially now that he finally has a virtually fit selection at his disposal. Then there are indeed no more excuses, as the national coach himself admitted last week as a guest on the Dutch TV program Studio Voetbal.
It creates pressure in advance. Regardless of the result, the Dutch national team – just over a year before the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico – has reached the point where more can be expected, in terms of structure and performance. That also applies to the national coach.
The squad for the two games against Spain
Is Oranje better than when Koeman started as national coach?
The experienced coach thought for a moment when asked at the press conference, but was then clear. ‘Qualitatively, we are absolutely no less than in my first period. If we are complete’, he added.
‘The difference is that we are less stable as a team’, Koeman thought. ‘In my first period as national coach, we had fewer bad periods in matches than in the past international matches.
I think one of the reasons is the constant changes in the line-up of the selection. That was not the case at all in my first period (2018-2020).’
Due to all the changes and injuries, Koeman misses the stability of Oranje. ‘Back then, we played a lot of matches with at least the same nine or ten starting players. If you have to constantly change… And then time is also so limited. While we are expected to achieve top performances and results.’
‘It also has to do with ourselves’, analysed Koeman, who had not managed to beat a top country with Oranje for years. ‘In phases of matches we lose the ball in unnecessary places.
In terms of football, we do not make the right choices. That makes us inferior to top countries. Why can we beat Spain? That is football, that is sport. It is always possible, regardless of the quality.’
Oranje misses a right winger: ‘That’s always a Challenge’
The Dutch national team normally plays in a 4-3-3 formation, but for the Nations League doubleheader with Spain (again) they do not have a real right winger in the selection. National coach Ronald Koeman is therefore faced with a challenge.
At the press conference on Monday afternoon, Koeman confirmed that the right winger position is quite a problem child. ‘You have more right-footed players who prefer to play on the left’, he said.
‘We have tried to find a solution for that before, with Xavi Simons on the inside for example. But it is always a puzzle to fill that, yes.’
Nevertheless, Koeman does not seem to be a fan of choosing a completely different system and/or filling it up differently up front. ‘Of course there is not enough training time for that’, said the national coach.
‘But at the same time I have always said that there will always be moments when you can deviate from your way of playing and do it in a different way. That also depends on how you see an opponent. What are the strong and weak points? Because Spain has those too. You put your best team against them.’
Koeman has at least decided how he wants to do it next Thursday. ‘Yes, I had four months to think about that’, the national coach chuckled. ‘The idea of playing: I have decided on that.’
Koeman: ‘Memphis can still be of great value to the Dutch national team’
National coach Ronald Koeman is confident that Memphis Depay can once again be of great value to the Dutch national team. He and director of top football Nigel de Jong recently flew to Brazil for a conversation with the Corinthians striker.
After the European Championship in Germany, Memphis signed with the Brazilian Corinthians, after which he disappeared from the picture with the Dutch national team. Now he is back.
‘I am convinced by the conversation with him and that I have seen him play. And that we have gained insight into his physical data’, said Koeman. After the Corinthians match on Sunday, Memphis quickly boarded the plane to the Netherlands.
‘He feels good and is fit. He has now played a lot of matches in the cup and competition. He is ready to join us here. I also came back from Brazil, then you are tired for a day…
I don’t think that is a problem. You discuss that with him, about how he feels. But I don’t foresee any problems. If I want to start with him, that would be possible.’
Koeman was asked whether he expected to call on Memphis now. ‘I also had contact with him when he made this choice. Then you follow him and you get a certain feeling. But you only really get that feeling when you see him play. That is why I am convinced that he can still be of great value to this team.’
Memphis Depay can therefore still become the top scorer of all time for the Dutch national team. He has 46 goals in 98 matches. Robin van Persie is still in first place with fifty goals in 102 matches.
World Cup qualification or Nations League semi-final: the Spain scenarios
In the Nations League double-header against Spain, not only is a place in the semi-final of the final tournament at stake, but the two matches against the current European champion also have an impact on the upcoming World Cup qualification period. VI explains the consequences of success or elimination against Spain.
The Netherlands will host Spain in De Kuip on Thursday, after which the return match will follow three days later in Valencia. After that match in Mestalla, there will be more clarity for both the Netherlands and Spain in the World Cup qualification period.
This has to do with the final match of the Nations League. The semi-finals and (consolation) final will be played when other countries start the World Cup qualification period.
If the Netherlands manages to eliminate Spain, the Netherlands will end up in the semi-finals and will therefore not be able to start the World Cup qualifying period in June towards the 2026 global final tournament.
In that case, the Netherlands will have to participate in a smaller pool, where it is not necessarily necessary to take action in June. The consequence of eliminating Spain is that the Netherlands will end up in a group with a total of four countries.
If the team of national coach Ronald Koeman is eliminated by Spain, it will be possible to play qualifying matches in June and will be played in a group of a total of five countries.
In short, the Netherlands will play against Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria on the way to the 2026 World Cup if the two-match series against Spain is converted into a win.
In that case, Bulgaria will be the first opponent in the World Cup qualifying period on 4 September. In the international period before that, they will play against Croatia or France in the semi-final of the Nations League.
If Spain is eliminated, there will of course be no semi-final match against Croatia or France, but World Cup qualifying football can be played in June. The Netherlands will then be in a group with Poland, Finland, Lithuania and Malta.
Finland would be the first opponent in the event of elimination in the Nations League on 7 June, after which they will play at home against Malta.
Depay
Gakpo-Reijenders- Frimpong
Frenkie- Gravenberch
Timber- Van dijk- Van heckie- Geetruida
Verbruggen
This will be koemans line up. If not frimpong then malen on right
i understand the bias of koeman towards Geetruida..Do you think a champions league contender,EPL contender arsenal Starter RB Timber will be sitting in for some Geetruida??..on What base?Depay wont start i feel..Since Baas came in as LB substitute Hato will start..anyways its Koeman ,and HUMAN STUPIDITY IS INFINITE..
I always hope for the best, and try to figure out ways the team could get a positive result, but these are two difficult games under the best of circumstances, and now is not the best of circumstances. Gravenberch and Van Dijk, are coming off two physically and mentally draining losses.Gakpo looked neither fit or ready against PSG. (Didn’t see how he did as a sub on Sunday. Dumfries is now injured.
This is not say that they oughtn’t show up. Koeman doesn’t like to start Frimpong with Dumfries, but maybe he will be less hesitant to do so with Dumfries at rb. Starting Lang on the left and Frimpong on the right could give any opposition problems, Spain included. I’d prefer Brobbey in the middle to see how he plays as a starter with the top group.
The mf should be good if Gravenberch has his legs.
On defense, Hato, Van Dijk, De ligt, Timber? De ligt has been in better form lately. As with Gravenberch, have to hope that Van Dijk’s legs hold up. Timber is a good defender. Good test for Hato, he’ll see things from Spain he’s never dealt with at Ajax.
Fingers-crossed.
De ligt is getting loved adored by Man united fans,He is the only reason they are not leaking goals..but i always felt De ligt and Van dijk has bad chemistry.i like De ligt more ..
Both Timber and Hato are monsters i want to see so called yamal vs Hato and so called Nico williams vs Timber..i feel they would pocket them.
Gravenberch should not starting.he lost his energy.that was evident in newcastle game,,i prefer Brobbey to start and koopmeiners.
Lang——-Brobbey———-kluivert
———koopmeiners—————-
–Reinders———-Frenkie———–
Hato–Virgil—–De ligt——-Timber
———-Flekken———————
Verbruggen is shaky in last games for Brighton..
Gakpo,gravenberch,Depay,frimpong can come in as subs
Im pinning your statement down that hato and timber are monsters and will pocket both yamal and Williams
@ andrew
Agree on your sentiment that lang and frimpong could give problem to any team. Pity though they don’t have much game time under their belt
Elsewhere talent look out. Ezechiel Banzuzi. Have been reading good stuff about this guy.
I can also say for a fact koeman inside his mind and heart must be not bothered what the result would be and most likely will take the loss to priotize a easier world Cup qualifier group rather winning vs Spain and playing other heavy weights along which will ultimately expose him further
Typical koeman and his press conference. Nothing good, always trying to cover up his bogus selections.
Is Oranje better than when Koeman started as national coach?
We or I have talked up this in length and how there is no growth in NT with system as an in affiliations, selection criteria, player investment and from rotation and building depth point of view. Apart from Van dijk, de Jong, Depay ( worn out) are the only players over the years that have provided that formidable back bone to the team. The rest are merely just making numbers and including gakpo who is hot and cold depending on the opponents. How do you expect them to win anything with this and if you look at it, come injuries to these players, the team simply start back paddling. Again I’m repeating all this. No light at the end of the tunnel until everything I have said on top changes.
This is a recent of what I’m have saying about how the system work. Rensch just departed Ajax in the winter transfer window to Roma. Last qualifiers when dumfries was injured Rensch was called up and even few times before that and even during Van gaal tenure right. Now all of a sudden he is not required. You see how the system works and how these moronic Dutch coaches roll the conveyer belt with close affiliations they are rooted too.
Koeman came in prioritizing Geertruida over Frimpong only for Frimpong to prove him wrong and it is the same story now for Geertruida.at Leipzig now. I read this Geertruida and koeman have the same agent and this is why he is called up. Another waste of time and spot. And you think about it Frimpong still hasn’t being able to play as much as what dumfries and with dumfries injured what do expect to happen. Timber or Geertruida to come in. For koeman it’s all about the system and who can fit in it. Once those players get injured or teams tatically gets outclassed they, buckle to knee
Like I said it’s just pity seeing all this happen under this moronic Dutch coaches who limiting the upward trajectory of the team by simply being sturbborn and not open minded. I don’t think anything will change unless this changes.
You think of it, with dumfries injured, Frimpong shud be starting so that he can firm his grip in the team but just because of koeman tatical system, this won’t happen. So how you expect growth
Oranje misses a right winger: ‘That’s always a Challenge’
Nope, not a challenge. Simply they don’t wanna look at those playing in average to mid level clubs. I remember kluivert at Nice was playing on the right but he was not called up. Again it goes back to selection criteria and preference. I think I have already mentioned this. The only thing that has changed for kluivert at Bournemouth is the coach has rotated him and has gotten the best out him in the center. He was still banging goals in serieA , la liga, eredivisie and ligue 1.why can’t koeman do the same with the stacked left wingers. Lang at best given he is most fluent on both foot. I mean you look at how ancelotti is using Rodryogo at madrid.he was a left winger and now on the right. Arteta has being doing the same with Martinelli with saka injured. The problem with these Dutch coaches they are stir on to rotate and if they do, it’s not with the right players. I can see gakpo on the right as well.
I have said this many times as well, they control which player to market in the Dutch NT and unfortunately for those who play in mid table teams, it’s always a dream.
On other note you look at Bosz, he kept babadi on the bench all this time until when he f*cked, then he is starting him and he has really changed the complexion of the team
Again it just shows mental rigidity the of these Dutch coaches. This problem (RW) though goes back to FDB era after he took over from then koeman. After Babel retired and promes went into wildness.
First half Holland playing better then Spain, unfortunally Hato gave away a goal, he won´t sleep tonight….
@Johan,
New look!
Yes, Hato must have mixed emotions about tonight. His bobble in the first half , his unfortunate red in the second…for the most part though, he played a pretty strong game.
Of the other injury stand-ins, Van Hecke was superb—may have made himself the starting rcb; and Koeman shouldn’t have to spend another second wondering who the right wing is anymore.
Once Again injuries come to koeman’s rescue. You have to admit Frimpong took away the biggest piece of cake and after how long it had taken to unlock him
I will again say this. Gakpo only looks good when in space and time, on the plate. Credit given where it’s due . I mean you look at balance and threat that came from both flanks. Frimpong pure cutting edge. Imagine if Lang would have been on the other flank. Also the space that gakpo received on his goal, I think any of kluivert, Lang, or Depay could have scored. By the way the runs that Depay made on few occasions with his stomach blotting out. I was thinking o dear who released this bull. The one he slided in the corner.
I like though how Reijnders and Frenkie were interchanging . Very very positive. I think that trio of kluivert, Frenkie and Reijnders is a good combo to build on.
I think the foundation has been laid thanks to some changes which has really propelled the team and again it’s all about cutting edge and individual quality. Koeman needs to start rotating gakpo to see what others can bring. Build that depth. Call up Maatsen. What he can bring. Look at how emery uses him. If koeman utilizes this qualifieers constructively, there is hope.
They need to start looking for a striker. Depay is simply not the answer.
Good game though. But then NT have always being competitive playing on home turf. Away will be the challenge
@Jan hope you are doing good.
After a long time in last 5 years this was the best game played by oranje that i have seen..This is was due to kluivert,Frimpong,Geetruida..i felt absense of Dumfries helped us to keep possession at tight spaces and ball carrying ability of Frimpong and Geertudia on right was amazing.This was absent from Dumfries..i think We should go with Timber-Frimpong or Geetruida -Frimpong at right wing.
We should move Gakpo to center striker with Lang and simons from left..kluivert as playmaker 10,with sem steijn as his back up..
However that refree was so good,unbiased.He saw lunge on kluivert by Huijsen and left him with yellow ,while Hato was given red..uefa refree are not favoring spain..that yellow card to van dijk,another funny card..what should van dijk do??this is football .not a pus@@y game..i forgot football became PU##3sy woke game..
Yes a new look, still working on it, sorry it had to be on a matchday, but the designing is not in my hands…… Will work on a article about the game as well, work in progress….