Rafael van der Vaart does not envision a midfield with Frenkie de Jong and Joey Veerman during the European Championship, he writes in The Telegraph. In his latest column, the former international takes a closer look at the Dutch midfield and sees that the competition is fierce. “I wish Koeman a lot of wisdom in this.”
Koeman cannot call on Frenkie de Jong on Saturday against Ireland and Tuesday against Gibraltar. The FC Barcelona midfielder is not fit enough to play and is therefore not part of the selection. The national coach therefore has serious choices to make in midfield.
Frenkie’s starting position is usually not up for discussion according to Van der Vaart. “Then you look: who can best stand next to Frenkie? If I am very honest, I say that Quinten Timber really has everything to stand next to Frenkie. But Reijnders is already in that position and he is up against France really fantastic job. It will remain there.”
Van der Vaart is very charmed by Reijnders. “Technically he is fine, but the most interesting thing about him is that he always looks forward and is always on the move. It is extremely difficult for an opponent to play football against him. He can give a pass, score a goal, In principle he has everything. It is nice for Koeman and the Dutch team that these types of guys stand up.”
Each other’s competitors
In Van der Vaart’s eyes, Timber and Reijnders are the same types. “That also applies to Gravenberch. All three have great dynamics, Timber and Reijnders can both switch back well and have a lot of content. At the same time, they both have the ability to be ‘away’ a lot, because they have a lot of lung capacity. They are So a bit of competition with each other.”
Van der Vaart does not like a midfield with Frenkie and Veerman during the European Championship. “In the role that Frenkie occupies, as a team you need a player like Schouten, who knows very well where he stands defensively and who also sees the game. Against the absolute top, such as at a European Championship, it can fit better with Schouten next to Frenkie.”
In the matches against Ireland and Gibraltar, Veerman and Schouten could form a couple according to Van der Vaart. “Ultimately, Koeman does not have to make the choice now and in the spring he will also choose the player with the best form. Because you can think of anything, but if one of the midfielders I mention does not hit a marble before the European Championship, it will be different.”