Theo Janssen and Pierre van Hooijdonk find it strange that Luuk de Jong has fallen in the pecking order with the Dutch national team. The Seville striker still played in the starting eleven in the World Cup qualifiers against Latvia and Gibraltar, but now has to make it in the last exhibition games against Scotland and Georgia in preparation for the European Championship with a place on the reserve bench. Janssen says in the studio of the NOS that De Jong did not have a chance to show himself, as Wout Weghorst had a basic place in the last two international matches.
“It looks like he’s at the top of the pecking order,” says Janssen. “I think that’s strange, by the way. Luuk de Jong has done well in the Dutch national team, he has played a lot in the base and scored goals. Now he is suddenly second or third striker out of nowhere. While Weghorst was not in the pre-selection. Everyone called for him to be there and now he plays twice in the base, I think that’s pretty special.”
“Because Luuk de Jong has shown to the Dutch national team that he is doing well. He hasn’t had a chance to show it,” the former midfielder continues. He is supported by fellow analyst Pierre van Hooijdonk. “In the last qualifying matches he left a good impression. So yeah, I don’t see it that way to start doubting that. We don’t see the training.” Janssen responds: “He will not be happy, in any case.”
Frank de Boer indicated prior to the friendly against Georgia that the line-up in that match is ‘broadly speaking’ the formation he will bring in next week during the first match at the European Championship with Ukraine. “It depends, I have one other idea. But let’s just assume that it will be broadly the case,” said De Boer.
“At first he didn’t answer, then he said he had something else in mind. That didn’t sound very convincing,” Van Hooijdonk responds after seeing the interview with De Boer. Janssen may expect one more change. “This is it, pretty much. If De Ligt is fit in time, he will just come back. Then maybe Timber will get out. That is also logical, that boy has very little experience and is only now playing his second international match.”
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