In the run-up to the eight-final match with the Czech Republic at the European Championship, the discussion flares up again on who should operate in the vanguard next to Memphis Depay. Pierre van Hooijdonk leaves no doubt about it and opts fully for Donyell Malen. Former top scorer Roy Makaay also believes that the Dutch national team is best off with the PSV attacker. National coach Frank de Boer can better keep Wout Weghorst on hand, is the opinion.
“If the the Dutch wants to achieve something at this European Championship, then De Boer must play with Malen in the base against the heavier opponents. That is the only way in which this Dutch team has a chance of becoming European champion”, Van Hooijdonk advises. De Boer in an interview with The Telegraph. The analyst foresees problems if the national coach chooses Weghorst again on Sunday. “He’s not very fast. While Depay is a player who always gets into the ball. That’s why you need a fast player in addition to Depay, who brings depth to the game. Weghorst could rarely, if ever, be stabbed in those first games, while you that at Malen immediately saw several times against North Macedonia,” said the former attacker.
Malen: ‘Will I be disappointed then? That would be very human, wouldn’t it?’
The attacker is already looking ahead to the eighth final of this European Championship.
Van Hooijdonk emphasizes that Weghorst can indeed be used by De Boer, but then some things have to be adapted to the playing style. “With more nourishment from the flanks. I do not think that Weghorst has done badly in the European Championship matches so far. He has performed well. But to have a chance against stronger opponents, the the Dutch now needs speed in the front.” Makaay quotes the final group match against North Macedonia (0-3) to reinforce his opinion about Malen. According to him, with him and Depay in the front, there is much more variation in the attacking game of the Dutch.
“When Depay was in the striker, Malen swerved to the left and vice versa. The Netherlands was much more difficult to defend than the duels before,” said Makaay, who also believes that Georginio Wijnaldum functions better when Depay and Malen play for him. “Malen and Depay create the space for him, so that he can dive into the holes.” The former player does not want to write off Weghorst completely for this European Championship. “Wout is a good striker, but in my view especially in a 4-3-3 system, because it is ideal for him if he is served from the sides. And in the current system he is the perfect crowbar.”
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