Davy Klaassen saw the Dutch national team start like a diesel in the World Cup qualifier against Montenegro (4-0) on Saturday evening. Earlier this summer, the midfielder did not receive a minute of playing time from the then national coach Frank de Boer at the European Championship. Under Van Gaal, however, Klaassen was a basic player against both Norway and Montenegro.
“I think he lets me play in my favorite position,” Klaassen said afterwards about his attacking role in midfield. “At least in the position where I prefer to play.” The midfielder saw how the the Dutch could not put enough pressure in the opening phase. “Once we did, we hardly ran into any more problems. Except with those two back passes”, he was referring to the passes of Tyrell Malacia and Stefan de Vrij, from which no goal was scored in the end.
Klaassen.. KLAASSEN! At the cross road. the Dutch’s best moment so far.#NEDMON pic.twitter.com/Xe8GtOu6vk
— NOS Football (@NOS Football) September 4, 2021
“Now we have to face Turkey again on Tuesday. Then we can take the lead of the group from them.” There is a good chance that Klaassen, who made the 1-1 against Norway and headed hard on the crossbar on Saturday, will again appear at the starting signal in Johan Cruijff ArenA. Ryan Gravenberch, one of Hans Kraay Jr.’s favorite players, is the victim of this. The youngster played 106 minutes at the European Championship against Austria and North Macedonia, but is still waiting for his first minutes under Van Gaal.
“As long as Van Gaal plays with the point back, there is no place for Gravenberch”, Kraay Jr. analyzed Saturday evening at ESPN. The analyst wonders whether that will change. “Maybe in the big games he will play with two controllers and Georginio Wijnaldum on ten. Then he can qualify again.” The question is when the the Dutch squad will play against major countries again. “Against Turkey? I think Van Gaal will keep everything that way.”
Kraay Jr. foresees that Virgil van Dijk will return against Turkey against Turkey, something Van Gaal also confirmed afterwards. “And he will have to choose between Tyrell Malacia and Daley Blind. I think he will choose Blind. I think he leaves the system the same. Van Gaal won’t mess around. When the time is right, when we are qualified, he will reintroduce the 5-3-2 system.”