Rafael van der Vaart is charmed by Noa Lang. The winger made his debut against Latvia (0-1 win) on Friday evening after just over an hour of play. He looked eager and was actively involved in the attacks of the Dutch. Van der Vaart saw that Lang ‘wanted’. “You can see that he gives a shit about everything. He does have an appearance of: here that ball, I’m going to do it“, notes the analyst of the NOS up afterwards.
“I think he’s a great player, but it’s not that he came in great. I’m glad he came in,” Van der Vaart makes clear. Lang himself appeared delighted in front of the camera of the NOS. “I got my fill, yes,” said the attacker. Every player who makes his debut in the Dutch national team receives a hare, a pin. “That gets a very nice place at home, with all my cups and shirts.” Lang was not nervous, he indicated. “It sounds crazy, but no. Of course it’s your debut, but for me it’s just a competition.”
It is very telling who the best player of the Dutch was against Latvia
Voetbalzone handed out report figures to the players of the Dutch.
Lang was eager to get into the field. “The spaces were small and then I know for myself that I am a player who can bring you in such a game. I think I was still involved in three chances in the end.” Lang came in as a right winger, while he plays on the left at Club Brugge. “I’ve said it before: if you’re a good footballer, it doesn’t matter what position you’re in. Today I came in as a right winger, where I don’t play often of course, but that doesn’t make my debut any less beautiful, hear.”
Van der Vaart says with a laugh that he ‘certainly’ believes that Lang was not nervous before his substitute. “These are the guys who are so convinced of themselves. They come in, ask for every ball… Hopefully he will play for us for a long time,” he looks ahead. “We are going to be annoyed by him, but also be happy with him. I love to watch. I can imagine that a lot of people think: look at him, that snot nose. But I think he’s a great player. He played well today, no more than that.”
Bee ESPN notes Hans Kraay junior that he regrets that Lang did not play on the left wing. He wanted to switch sides with left winger Cody Gakpo after his substitution, but that initiative was quickly suppressed by national coach Louis van Gaal. “Noa Lang has really worked himself out, but you can see from everything that he also prefers to stand with his right leg on the left. Just like Cody Gakpo, Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay. He is just much better on the left. At Club Brugge he has become very good as a very free, fluttering left striker. And I still don’t think it’s a right winger. He wanted so much, but it’s just not a right winger.”