Frank de Boer has Donyell Malen appear on Sunday evening against Bosnia & Herzegovina from the kick-off with the Dutch national team. The national coach talks to the NOS explains why he chose the PSV striker in favor of Steven Berghuis, who made a good impression against Mexico on Wednesday. According to the choice lord, Malen has more depth in his game than Steven Berghuis, something the Orange can use well against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Pierre van Hooijdonk does not think that is a good argument, he explains in the studio.

The Netherlands starts with Malen, Luuk de Jong and Quincy Promes in the front. “Of course I have already devised a battle plan against Bosnia,” said De Boer before the match. “Then you look at what else you have at the front, for example Luuk de Jong as the point of contact. Then you need running boys who make depth without a ball, who like to get into the box and not just get into the ball. Because then it becomes very static. That was my battle plan. ”

Berghuis made a good impression against Mexico, but has to settle for a place on the bench. “He made it very difficult for me, because he was one of the better ones against Mexico,” De Boer responds. “I said that to him too. But I still believe this is the best right now. We have to see how that works out, of course, but it is good to know that it is in good shape and that I can always use it. ” De Boer agrees that Malen’s presence also has to do with Luuk de Jong in the rush hour. “Yes, absolutely.”

Van Hooijdonk does not entirely agree with De Boer’s explanation. “Frank says they expect Bosnia to remain in its own half. Then of course the argument he uses about Malen, about which he said they could use him well in depth, is of no use to you. Because there is almost no space left for it. If they play that deep then Berghuis would be a more logical choice. ” Rafael van der Vaart adds: “What he said about Berghuis, as a player it makes you very sick. You say: You played well, but this, this, and this. That’s always nice, but it doesn’t give you a shit because you don’t play. ”