People always wonder why we always include this dreadful World Cup story. Well… we want to make sure we won’t make these mistakes ever again!
So here goes, by popular demand… What happened at (or rather: before) the WC1990.
Well, it all started in 1988 of course. Van Basten & Co stunned the world. With Michels moving up from manager to federation official, former Feyenoord coach Thijs Libregts took the reigns. The ex-Excelsior and Feyenoord player had quite a reputation as a coach. Arrogant and authoritarian, he had a title to his name, but no one thought he actually won it…
He was Feyenoord’s coach when Cruyff decided to avenge his departure at Ajax and JC (and Gullit, Houtman, Hoekstra and Jeliazkov) won Feyenoord the title. Libregts was a suave operator, wearing the right suits and hairdo. But he was also a bit crass, with careless slip of the tongues… Like “Gullit is lazy, that’s what you get with those blacks…”.
Thijs Libregts being fired. The manipulator Michels in the background.
Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten were a force in these days. The Milan trio ruled. But so did one Ronald Koeman, Jan Wouters and Ajax captain John van ‘t Schip. And positivo Hans van Breukelen was a voice to be reckoned with as well. The big guns decided they didn’t want cold Libregts. They wanted to win the title and they pleaded with the KNVB to replace the unpopular Thijs by a coach they respected. Someone like JC for instance.
At some point during qualifying for the WC1990 (which we intended to win) revolted. Gullit led the players to a vote of no confidence and Libregts was told to go. But who would have to lead Oranje to the title? The players got to vote.
KNVB honcho Rinus Michels chose the side of his players and a ballot was made. All players voted and the top three was: on number 3: Aad de Mos. The former Ajax and KV Mechelen coach is a tactical wizard and a kid from the street, who spoke the players’ language. Wim Kieft and Ronald Koeman (having had some negative experiences with Cruyff who made them leave Ajax) picked De Mos.
Beenhakker to the rescue ?
Leo Beenhakker came in at number 2, with a tad more votes than Haagse Aadsje. Leo is well liked by most. He can work on players’ confidence and seemed ideal for a short stint. Although everyone remembered how Beenhakker failed to coach Oranje to a big tournament in the mid 1980s (Mexico WC 1986, with the dreaded late header by George Grun).
JC topped the list, of course. The Milan and Ajax clan in particular (Witschge, Winter, Schip, Van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard (despite Frank’s falling out with JC at Ajax). And JC was game. Or so it seemed.
Body language Gullit tells the whole story. Leo “Ok, Ruud… So you’re balls are this big. Fine.”
But Rinus Michels showed his true colors. He looked at the list and thought…hmmm…Johan…Can’t have him winning the WC and putting my EC trophy in the shadows… And Rinus vetoed JC’s appointment, giving the job to Don Leo in the meantime.
Can’t remember what Rinus said to justify this, but it was along the lines of “Leo is more experienced, Johan is an inexperienced coach. He never did the course. And Johan will cause problems with the KNVB, because Johan is expensive and he wants to pick his own staff. It’s not good to pick Johan.”
Later, off the record, he even called Johan Cruyff a psychopath…
The players were livid. The one-time schmooch-fest between Gullit and Michels was over. And before the WC a true trench-guerilla war began. Michels wrote columns in the Telegraaf (Amsterdam-based newspaper) and he leaked inside stuff to the press.
Gullit wrote columns in the AD, the Rotterdam based rival of Michel’s on-the-side employer. A war began, resulting in the KNVB forbidding players to write columns.
So, the scene was set. Beenhakker – the fool – accepted the job and should have known he couldn’t win. And then, as they have done many many many times before, the KNVB in all their wisdom came up with their tournament preparation scheme… How they fucked up, again!
In 1994 they would highly, dramatically underestimate the weather in the US for the WC (Gullit was adamant that the summer would be too much for a normal prep and – influenced by the Milan scientists – begged for a special approach…
When people told him he should stick to kicking footballs, the dreadlocked one decided to withdraw from the Dutch team… We all know the result of that group phase…).
Anyway, the KNVB decided to book a monastery type castle in the middle of nowhere in Yugoslavia…
These top players, who had tough seasons with their clubs, were looking forward to fun and chilling out. To clear the heads for this WC. Some beach volley ball, a nice town nearby for the wives and girlfriends, maybe some golf-resort…. But they got medieval circumstances… Isolation and a full on training scheme…
Something broke in that period. The players were miserable, and some players started to rebel (again), breaking out of their prison and going haywire.
Now this picture tells a story. Gullit had a column deal with the AD newspaper (he is reading) and Michels had a deal with rival newspaper De Telegraaf (see Michels in the back with reporter). Both columns clashed tremendously and Gullit was forbidden to write columns while a national squad player. Something broke alright….
The performances were abysmal in this WC. Gullit and Van Basten weren’t able to deliver. Was it fatigue? Injuries (Van Basten’s right ankle was already in shambles)? Was it the Beenhakker thing? Van ‘t Schip and Wouters were the danger men for Holland, Kieft had a good spell, Rijkaard was solid, but it wasn’t enough.
At one point, Leo Beenhakker left the dressing room with what seemed to be a black eye. Rumors started how Van Basten punched him out, but Don Leo said “he’d bumped into to something”… Marco’s fist? Other stories related how Van Basten had thrown an ashtray to Leo’s head. Whatever it was, we’ll never know.
Don Leo sighed that “75% of what happened behind closed doors will never be revealed” but when asked about this much later, he claims he never said it. Players now balk at that quote, saying they can’t imagine what Leo had been smoking…
“We just didn’t have it. It didn’t gel. Gullit, Van Basten, Koeman…they all seemed tired. It’s one of those things…”
The first knock out game against Germany was a classic. Oranje could have won that, there were some good chances (Wouters, Winter, Schip) but the Germans scored twice and we only once. That sums it up. Although Rijkaard scored twice against Rudi Voller of course :-). But that didn’t result in us winning, it only resulted in both men being sent off.
Rinus shouldn’t have screwed the players over. And maybe the players should have gone on strike.
Maybe, they should have said: look, we’re the 3 from Milan. We won European cups, we won the EC in 1988, we have tremendously skilled players and we’re eager. We only need one thing: a coach we respect. Give us JC! If not, we won’t go.
That never happened. They went with Don Leo and stayed too long isolated from the world in some horrible camp. The spirit was broken. The mind wasn’t fresh. The legs refused to listen.
No gold and glory, only humiliation and mysterious insinuations of mythical proportions…
World Cup 1990 games
🏆 Group F
The Netherlands were in a very tight group where all teams finished with the same points.
Match 1
🇳🇱 Netherlands 1–1 Egypt 🇪🇬
- Goal Netherlands: Wim Kieft
Match 2
🇳🇱 Netherlands 0–0 England 🏴
- Defensive game, few chances
Match 3
🇳🇱 Netherlands 1–1 Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪
- Goal Netherlands: Ruud Gullit
👉 Final Group Standing:
- All 4 teams had 3 points
- Netherlands finished 3rd but still advanced as one of the best third-placed teams
⚔️ Round of 16
🇳🇱 Netherlands 1–2 West Germany 🇩🇪
- Goal Netherlands: Ronald Koeman (penalty)
👉 This match is famous for the incident between:
- Frank Rijkaard
- Rudi Völler
Both players were sent off after a heated confrontation.
📊 Summary
- Group stage: 3 draws
- Knockout: eliminated in Round of 16
- Final position: Last 16
What would have happened if Rijkaard didn´t focus on Rudi Völler and did that disgusting stuff, Germany won the WorldCup in 1990….
Rijkaard did only to Voller.Why?? other 10 german players were there.it happens in contact sports..Football is disgusting these days,refrees decides who wins a match..
i think mats weiffer will be called for schouten..He is proven at EPL,He is a natrual RCM/DM..Also i feel Geetruida will also be in USA.koeman wont take Read or Tete,Though both are good…
probable koeman 26 man at wC
Verbruggen
Roefs
Flekken tahts 3 confirmed
————
Timber,Dumfries,Geetruida.Van hecke,virgil,Van de ven,Ake,hato,–8 confirmed
Frenke,Reinders,Gravneberch,Quinten,koopmeiners,Simons,Weiffer–7 confirmed
Frimpong,Malen,Weghorst,Depay,Brobbey, Gakpo,–6 confirmed
that means 8+7+6+3=24 is confirmed..then only two spots available
1 st choice will go Summerville ,beacuse he wants an extra right winger,summerville is normally at left but could play at right wing too
2–it could be a defender center back or Noah lang or kees smit…considering the fitness of memphis and weghorst…
I think Memphis and weghorst should stay at home and watch WC from Television..
Some times injuries are BLEESING WHEN your coach is hesistant to chnage and invite defeat after defeat with same 11..
WE PLAYED OUR BEST GAMES VS SPAIN THE BEST SIDE WITH OUT DUMFRIES..AND MANY IDIOTS DELIBRATELY IGNORING THAT FACT…
With dumfris at 4 back system forget about playing a good game vs any top team.
Why do you need to insult people Tiju?
Do something about your writing, it´s full of spelling mistakes!
Why people ignoring the fact the we played best games with out Dumfries VS a Top team,delibrately?
Anyone ignores that fact lacks serious level of football intelligence.
Agreed i will take care of Spelling mistakes ,will take care of that..
The two games against Spain we learned a lot, but will it be like that again on the World Cup?
What I saw in those games is a very good Frimpong at home and very poor away…
In Spain he let his guy walk away…. not defending as he was the winger…..
A great team defends as one, that´s what we need against big teams, otherwise we will be punished, defending starts by putting preasure over the whole field, including the forwards…
Dumfries was not there, so we can´t judge his performance on these games, simple like that….
Fact is he brings a shipload of energy to the game, forcing wingers to run after him, and making goals as well….
Things also depends of form, are players topfit, yesterday Timber didn´t play, injured, will he be topfit in 2 months, he has an ancle problem…. We can have the discussion about Timber or Dumfries, but probably things get resolved close at the game, one is injured/not fit, the other one will play…
If Koeman decides for Timber I am totally ok, as he is doing amazing at Arsenal, the current PL leader
VS Spain was the top games i have watched in long time under koeman after 2022 WC van gaal Regime..Spain game had many factors i agree,most importantly wim Jonk effect.Now they hired Nestel rooy, that would tactically help koeman a lot..
Infield Frimpong was excellent but away game he was noted and marked with better care..i still feel koeman beat Spain,if it was not a biased Refree who was ready to give penalty VS us for Spain and giving red card to hato for same foul while Huijsen gets nothing.(lunge on kluivert)_
Combinations wins tough games/close games..the combination of kluivert,Frimpong supported by a distributor like Geetruida gave us that fluidity. Rest everything was same..
Geetruida played as RB and moved like inverted RB acted as midfeilder.So frimpong could hug the line and since Geetruida was a baller he could keep ball on his feet and release the electric Frimpong at his will..Thats so deadly..
Did you watched yesterday City vs Arsenal..Did you noticed how city operated?/Nico O reily played like invered Left back,skillfull baller came to midfeild,that gave steel to mid and released Doku at will..thats what top teams do these days..
My problem with dumfries is he cannot be trusted vs Top teams and also he can not survive pressing from my 2 year old daughter..that really pis## me off..i dont care how dumfries score against Finland or USA..He is a liabilty VS top team…
I heard Timber is having hamstring issue and he will back and top fit in WC.Thank God he was inured in march 15 or so.Where did you get the ankle issue?
Last but least ,We play 433 or 4231 or 4213 ..not 532 ,Dumfries is right wing back we dont play that system.
I dont think Koeman should take an extra defender? Why? It hardly happens that defenders need to be subbed off with an injury but you often need a create, offensive change from the bench. So you need to take 2 jokers. Two players who can change a game. Summerville might be perfect. Koeman will also take a youngblood, Kees Smit or Valente.
There is also a change Depay won’t make it. For him I’d take Emegha or Guus Til.
I was looking at the groups over the weekend. If we aren’t out in the first round, but definitely in the second round. In the second round, we’ll be facing either Brazil or Morocco. If anyone is thinking of a different outcome, you are dreaming.
Morocco we can beat, Brazil is always difficult, but here in Brazil NOBODY is convinced Brazil will do good… Great players but no team, they all think they are the best, maybe at their club, not at the Seleção Brasileiro…..
We need a little luck, and maybe also a strategy to play against Morocco instead of Brazil….
Look in to who iscoaching who.Ancelotti is a winner..Just dont count on France victory over BRazil…FRANCE IS the stronegst team on the planet earth now..nobody is goin to survive mbhappe,olise,doue,Dembele,barcola,Cherki…they ARE ALL INSANE BALLERS WITH SPEED..night mare for any defender..i cannot see koeman beating BRazil..morocco might be beatable. may be he will.lets hope we avoid brazil till final ,
On a good day we can beat Brazil and/or Morocco. France is the only nation that really scares me. Is there a scenario we meet them in the finals?
The only thing I can see as potential silver lining, is the many egos and stars in the French squad not willing to work together. Otherwise, they’re unstoppable.
@ Johan
Which Morocco are you talking about? You are joking right? Morocco is one of the top team in the world now and at every level by the way. They can and should beat Brazil in their opening game. Are you serious? Brazil isn’t the same Brazil but they are still Brazil.
Which top teams have we beaten recently? Zero!! We are even struggling against bottom teams. We are horrible. Some of you guys are dreaming.
I have seen so many line ups but they are still the same players and we have tried them all. By the way, we are already know Koeman’s starting 11. The same one he’s been putting on the field the past 4 years.
Well, I live in Brazil, I just echo what locals tell me here… Against Brazil I guess its 50-50.
Yes, I have faith, I dream that one day we will win the World Cup….
Will it be in 2 months? Who knows, its football, anything can happen, we need a little bit luck, right? Robben was so close in 2010 against Spain in the last minute alone in front of the goalkeeper……. If he would have scored that one…….
One day it will happen, I still believe, we have a decent team, maybe not the best but Argentina was far from the best (except Messi), and Messi should have had a red card against Holland in the half final of 2022….
Lets keep faith, otherwise life is so misserable… right? My glass is half full…. Hup Holland
Most brazilians are innocent,feelingful wonderful people,they basically have no clue about ancelotti..thats why they have no hope..loosing against mighty french team should not be counted as defeat.
Well, in this go around, unless you are a supporter of France, Spain, or Argentina, you have to dream a little bit to see your team winning the WC. The Dutch can field a strong team. What they don’t have is a Messi, Yamal, or Mbappe. They’ll have three weeks together to create a team that fits together and gels, and if that happens, who knows…that is where the dreaming comes in. As Johan says, it is more fun to go into a game/tournament thinking of ways they might win rather than lose.
Dreaming aside, as much as Japan worries me, I think they’ll win their group. Brazil or Morocco? Good teams, both; doesn’t mean the Dutch can’t beat them.
Just to be clear: “…I think the [Dutch]’ll win their group.”
Not to be overlooked with the other discussion,your piece on 1990 was excellent Jan (even though the memories are hard). Thank you.
If I recall correctly, Gullit was also dealing with a knee issue in that WC, and wasn’t at his best. But he seemed to be finding himself in the Ireland game. At the start of the Germany game, the malaise seemed lifted, and they were on top until the Voller-Rijkaard madness. Thereafter, with more space and a slower backline, Klinsmann ran them ragged…and so…
1990 really was a screw up. A terrific squad, and it showed in the ’92 Euros. By then, the team had added Bergkamp. They dusted the Germans 3-1 in group play. It is still hard to understand how they could go out against Denmark.
Thank Andrew, and I agree, the 1990 Germany game should have been ours. I remember Wouters missing a huge chance even at 0-0.
The Denmark match was nuts. We may have underestimated the beach team a bit but for Van Basten to miss a penalty, I mean, how often did that happen….
Was 88/ 90 better than 98/2000??
I barely recall WC 90. As back then the only two names that use to be every bodys lips was pele and maradona. No tele back then for me and only use to read about Milan trio on newspaper. Coming up to 92-94 with epl gaining popularity, things changed. The era of TV and internet.
How different would have the team under JC.??
I have long being critical about this Dutch management and co, hierarchy and it continues to persist even today where they continue to hit the shovel in their own foot. I mean look at other teams when they decline and able to build up again 2 fold faster than what the Dutch are able to to do in years. And I’m afraid this is set to continue as when Dutch coaches flop at club club, they are offered the NT job. I mean the very reason why they flopped is what they bring the Dutch team and expectation aid always to win. I think this needs to change if they want to go into a new direction. If Brazil can hire ancelloti , then the Dutch shud look at outside as well. Majority of the Dutch players are playing in epl. Maybe an epl coach. Emery,for one imo.
For this WC, all teams coming get good prep time and you always expect competitive duals like Saudi vs Argentina, equador vs Netherlands. You can expect the same this time as well and probably a tougher pool than last WC.
The question for me is could the team had been better. Answer yes. Koeman thinks sticking to his old guard tatic is the way to go, I mean it’s mind over matter and I know what will be the outcome of that.
QF at most.
@Wilson, always hard to compare teams. I loved the 1998-2000 team, but, to me, 1988-1992 was the best team they’ve had since ’74. It is difficult to put into words just how good was the trio of Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard. Plus Koeman and Wouters, etc, and then to add Bergkamp and Frank De Boer in ’92…
Anyway, just my two cents. Jan, do you have an opinion here?
yes, I agree the 1990 team was almost as good as the 1974 one in terms of individual players. The 1998 team as in “team” was probably better. Hiddink was a better people manager than Beenhakker, who acted the top coach.
We didn’t fail at the 1990 WC due to the players, is the consensus.
In 1990, I think we had world best players on several positions (indeed the 5 you mentioned) while Vanenburg, Van ‘t Schip and Van Tiggelen offered their specific qualities.
The 1998 team only some world class players too, in Bergkamp, Kluivert, Davids and Frank de Boer though, but I think that team missed the personalities like Gullit and Wouters. These two were comparable to players like Terry and Keane. Winners. Ruthless.
The 1998 team was a bit more a team of ideal son-in-laws. Great players but – as Bergkamp and Cocu admitted later on – they never truly believed they could win it. That realisation came after the tournament.
I think overmars and Zenden were top players as well quality wise. Hasselbsink rarely got to play until after 2000 I think.
1988 was top quality from top to bottom,world super stars,ballon d or winners..1998 was hell of a collective team ..but they never belived in themselves,after beating Arjetina they thought they won by fluke..thats how bad was their confidence..its a painful memory for persoanlly especially 1998,2000,2006 and not qualifyiung for 2002 …and two shoot out vs arjetina in 2014 and 2022..
@jan
You are spot on the the selection of extra defenders. It’s a no brainer given Van dijk will play all games. And btw hato and Maatsen, it’s had to be Maatsen because what he offers and even if from the bench.
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MGExgta3e/?mibextid=wwXIfr
This is why the Dutch is not evolving and like I have said plenty times they keep hitting the fork in their own foot.
You also take the example of arteta and arsenal. Arteta just wanna win through tatical play but pep always beats him on the quality players front because when ever injuries hit both clubs city is able to sustain it because they have players who are equally on the same page on and off the bench while arsenal are suppressed and that’s what’s again happening.
This is what modern day football is about. If you wanna win. You need quality, depth, tatic. You can’t just win by just having to do with one.
The Brazil debate. Ancelloti is ancelloti, he if sniffs he will win. He just needs a striker who can make it count up front. That’s the only missing puzzle for him. A show down with them
In QF, I mean it’s always tight in knock out stages, but quality is where it will decide it .
I don’t mind the glorification of Ancelotti, I think he’s amazing but his resume is not as clean as people now seem to think. He won 3 CL’s with a club most coaches will be able to bring to the CL top, but he was also fired from four clubs….
Comparing City with Arsenal or PSG with Liverpool is quite unfair as the Saudi owned/funded clubs have unlimited funds. Hughes at Liverpool needs to sell players in order to bring new players in.
Pep can field two competitive EPL teams with his squad. Arne Slot cannot.
My point was players don’t rot on the bench for city , pep makes sure all the players are on the same page so when there is injuries, there is no pressure on the team as they are able to maintain the same momentum. If you can’t compete you get shipped out. Arsenal now are bottling the title race because of injuries. The team is not able to cope quality wise and especially when you have city breathing down the neck. This is what I was trying to compare in contrast to koeman and the status of modern day football and what it takes to win trophies.
Koeman is stuck in the same old past and thinks he can defy odds which ain’t gonna happen. He probably might reach QF or drag to SF and will say it was great accomplishment and the cycle will continue.
Slot gets fired if they don’t qualify for CL and probably will be the next coach
For Liverpool and I think this this has been debated and argued on. But looking at record breaking transfers they had it clear Slot basically inherited a good team from klopp and as klopp’s signature slowly started disappearing slot simply got lost and couldn’t keep the momentum and again this are the traits of Dutch coaches They are not good at adopting to sudden changes.
Saying that you cannot compare Liverpool to PSG would be an understatement given how they spent in the transfer market. Diaz depature kind of shifted that balance upfront and I have long said this Diaz and gakpo competition was what klopp created to get the best out of each other. And this is why I’m a big fan of competition. Look at Maatsen and digne at Villa under emery. The Dutch coaches are too conservative and don’t like to do this. It’s the same story in the NT. Gakpo vs lang, vs Simon. This is why so have long being critical about Dutch coaches.
summerville is our best Left winger followed by lang, the crazy games playing by simons and summerville on left wing for their clubs who battles at relagation.they single handedly gives hope their team..
Gakpo is used as striker by slot many times this season and we should consider that especiullay seeing the situation with memphis and weghorst..
Liverpool invested in isak and ekitike and you saying slot used gakpo at striker. Are I ok
yes slot used,you should watch games live,..even benching ektike he used gakpo..
Poku, Addai, now Summerville, gakpo will be a starter for koeman. Not sure about Summerville.
Why dont you watch summerville and simons at EPL??Why dont you watch addai at como in italy,before commenting stuidity??Poku will not make the cut,he is average..while Addai,summerville are starters when they are fit..addai scored few goals before he got injured..bad luck he is out for thseason since Januvary..
I m trying to look through the lens of koemans criteria. He won’t bench gakpo and for Summerville I’m not sure if he will get selected just based on goals. Bit too late. Not tested at NT level to really compete with others. Even if he goes , like many others will take time before he hits that full throttle. Impact of bench probably yes but confidence level and firm grip comes with more playing time and especially at NT. You can take many players who debuted in NT. No one was went from 0-10 just in one game. If you get the picture
Summerville is tearin apart defnses in EPL..is that lower level than NT??..Koeman is impressed with him ,he was umfortunately inured at March window games..or else he would have been there.koeman see him as right wing option too..
Yes i agree Koeman wont bench gakpo for summerville..But koeman can move gakpo to center,which is ofetn done by slot at pool..koemans favorite striker Depay has grade 2 muscle tear,he wont be really fit..and you know weghorst..i think Gakpo should be an automatic starter for striker in this scenario..that leaves lfet wing for summerville and lang///Simons will most likely play as no 10 behind striker,because kluivert injured for a season now,Reinders is not a no/playmaker..
I mean look at Xavi, kluivert and Lang. They still haven’t found that grip in the NT.
And as recent smit and valente.
Xavi is played out of position while lang and kluivert was inujured and not got enough time at NT..Both were excellent when they played.
@ Jan
Something you never mentioned on this blog. You know that in the 1974 WC final Cruyff was brought down outside of the penalty area right? He fell inside the box but they tackled him outside of the box. If it was now, they have not allowed the penalty. Please look at it again.
Hard to see. I checked again. I think the actual tackle started outside of the box, but the contact was on the line. But your comment is not so relevant in the sense that the West Germany penalty would definitely gotten ruled out by VAR, as it was a clear dive by Holzenbein.
But this discussion is completely irrelevant as the Dutch would not be at the WC1974 if VAR existed as Belgium qualified actually, but their legit goal was ruled out for offside. With VAR, Belgium would have won and qualified. No one would have talked about Total Football and for all I know, this site wouldn’t exist nd you, Jean, might not even exist (Butterfly effect).
I meant to write
The would not allow this penalty
Any thoughts on Bryan Linssen at NEC’s. They have had a good season. 11 goals
A failed eredivise player..Nothing more
Linssen has had a long (17 years) and decent career in the Eredivisie—128 goals. He may not be a NT player, but to label him a “failed” player feels a little harsh.
I AGREE bad terminology, at maximum an average Eredivisie player nothing more..its sinful to consider for NT at this point.
And this is said by a guy who played how many pro games?? I don’t like it when couch potatoes say harsh things about football players.
How is he a failed player??
Agree Arrigo sacchi was A couch potato who some how got a Job with Ac milan..You dont have to make films to say that movie bad or failed..ITS COMMON SENSE..
WHAT???
Striker option I mean
Xavi Simons is out of the WC. The only creative spark of this sub-mediocre team is now gone. I agree with Emmanual about Summervile being an ideal left winger for the NT but knowing Koeman, he will play Gakpo there.
I am now more convinced about my earlier prediction that Oranje will NOT qualify for the second round from Group F. If they somehow do, it will be as a third-place option and will get knocked out easily in the next match
Terrible news for Xavi! This will definitely put Summerville into the squad. I saw Ake limping as well…. I hope we won’t lose any more players.
How can you be a failed player having played for feyenoord with 28 goals and 16 assists.
This is why I always label my friend T as empty barrel making noise.
Yeah you could say he is old at 35 but like I mentioned there are others also on the boat. Striker and RW positions are still a question mark particularly from good team composition point of view.
Does he played in other strong leagues?/Answer is NO.Big NO that says he is average maximum eredivise player..where did 27 goals and 16 asisi=ts are from 2 full season with feynoord..Not from season..””He FAILED TO IMPRESS FORGIN CLUBS TO LOOK FOR HIM””