The Dutch national team achieved the maximum score in the group stage of the European Championship with the victory over North Macedonia, but it is difficult to say how good Frank de Boer’s team actually is. Together with coach and cult hero Eric Meijers, Voetbalzone looks back on the three matches on the basis of the ‘Kutkrantjes’ that he challenged and we look ahead to the eighth finals.
Achilles’ heel
Although the the Dutch squad got nine runs from three games, it showed in the games that the rearguard is not always solid. For example, the North Macedonians, good for a 62nd place in the FIFA ranking, still had a number of opportunities and that also worries Meijers: “The Achilles heel of the Dutch national team remains the switch, especially the left back in the zone. I am very curious how that will turn out against top countries, because with Daley Blind we have too little defensive capacity there. As an opponent I would always put the ball behind Blind in the switchover, then the Netherlands will get wet.”
Blind
Although the central defender of Ajax often loses on speed, he is extremely important in his passing. In the match against North Macedonia, Blind recorded the highest pass accuracy and in possession that is a great weapon, Meijers also thinks: “There is no discussion about Blind at the ball, he is one of the best in the Netherlands. Without the ball, on the other hand, he is particularly vulnerable and we must prevent that against good countries. That’s why I opt for Aké as left center defender, because then we are simply better defensively. The position of left wingback is currently the weakest occupied. Van Aanholt or Wijndal can play there, but I would choose to put Blind there. He may not get over it, but he is always playable on that side.”
De Roon
Meijers also sees that the previously maligned Marten de Roon is of added value in midfield: “The Netherlands creates enough, but we can do better in finishing. On the other hand, we give away opportunities more than necessary. The system makes no difference in that regard, because we are simply a country that gives away opportunities. De Roon is therefore crucial in capturing the ball, but if he gets yellow quickly in the game, you should actually change him as soon as possible. Its added value is immediately gone.”
grind vs. Weghorst
Where Wout Weghorst was preferred in the first two European Championship matches as a partner of Memphis Depay, Donyell Malen got the chance to show himself against North Macedonia from the first minute. The PSV striker seized this opportunity with both hands and emphatically asserted himself. “All opportunities arise from the switch, which is indispensable in international football. Who is better at the switch: Weghorst or Malen? Well, that’s not a discussion. The click between those three (Depay, Malen and Wijnaldum, ed.) is there. Depay has played a number of duels nicely with Weghorst, but in my view the latter is a supersub.
He may thank God on his bare knees that he is part of the Dutch national team. We have to use Weghorst if it doesn’t work offensively,” said the SV Spakenburg trainer. The fact that Weghorst almost scored does not mean anything to Meijers: “The fact that he has shot such a chance on the bar shows that he is technically insufficient. He should have hit the ball with the inside of his foot and picked a corner. Now it’s all about strength and he had his body too far back. He can’t do anything about that himself, because he just doesn’t have enough technical ability at the highest level.”
anti-gay law
Hungary is currently under considerable political discussion. It introduced a new law banning gay or transgender movies, books and commercials. Eric Meijers finds this unacceptable and hopes that football will create a counter voice with a statement: “What is happening there are things that still happened before the war. Let’s just say that this is no longer of this time. As many countries as possible must act against this.” When asked for a suggestion for a statement, Meijers sees it all before himself: “If the Netherlands scores the winning goal there on Sunday, I think Depay can take Wijnaldum full on the mouth. Just tongues, I have no problem with that. Let those Hungarians go crazy, who knows, maybe they really do. This Dutch team has enough creative traits in that regard.”
Kalum of Oudheusden is a full-time video journalist, presenter and program maker at Voetbalzone and makes exclusive interviews and various programs.
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