Frank de Boer explained just before the match between the Netherlands and Austria about the starting place for Matthijs de Ligt. The Juventus defender has recovered from groin complaints and replaces Jurriën Timber; furthermore, De Boer does not make any changes compared to the first game with Ukraine (3-2). The the Dutch squad will start the match against Austria at 9 p.m. in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. With a win, De Boer’s team is assured of the group win.
“If you win, you are group winner”, agrees De Boer in the interview with the NOS prior to the match. “It’s that simple.” The national coach is familiar with the possible opponents in the eighth final with group win. “I think it’s important. There can always be another rabbit out of the top hat, by drawing the number three from the group of death,” he refers to the Group F with Portugal, France and Germany.
The possible playing schedule of the Dutch with a win over Austria
What does the the Dutch schedule look like if Austria wins on Thursday evening?
With a loss of points, the Netherlands runs the risk of meeting Italy in the eighth final. In that case, the the Dutch squad may finish second in the group and then meet the winner of Group A, probably Italy. “Italy could do very well in that case”, also knows De Boer, who indicates that the introduction of De Ligt for Timber was ‘not really an ABC’. “Because Timber has done a fantastic job. You look at what you need,” he says.
De Ligt takes place in the middle of the five-man rearguard. As a result, De Vrij moves to the right-hand side of the center. “With De Ligt in the center and De Vrij more on the right, you have head power and speed in the back. I finally decided because of that combination to let Matthijs start,” said De Boer, who responds affirmatively to the question of whether De Ligt is lock on the door’.
De Boer has decided to put Teun Koopmeiners and Cody Gakpo in the stands. The national coach had to designate two players who are not part of the match selection. “I also said to the boys: if someone gives a bad signal or something, then you have a reason to put someone in the stands. But I don’t really have that. Then you just see what you need. In the end I have on substitution policy, and to be able to win matches, these guys were chosen. But it could have been someone else.”
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