The Dutch national team will play against Scotland in a 5-3-2 system on Wednesday evening, national coach Frank de Boer confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Although he did not want to give up his basic team yet, he said that Marten de Roon has a basic place. The Atalanta midfielder took place next to the national coach in Portugal during the press moment and explained what he thinks are the advantages of the 5-3-2 system.
In the absence of Jasper Cillessen, according to De Boer, it is a possibility that Tim Krul and Maarten Stekelenburg will both get a chance in a friendly match in the run-up to the European Championship. It is not yet known who will score on Wednesday, but what De Boer did want to confirm is that he will let the the Dutch start in the 5-3-2 system. “And he plays”, the choice lord referred to De Roon. “Because he is a very good player. They are all 26, but he certainly is too. He knows better than anyone how this system works. You also take that with you. And he played fantastic at his club. ”
De Roon is rewarded by De Boer for his good season at Atalanta and the way in which he has shown himself during the training sessions at the Dutch in recent days. “I have heard for the past three years that there are questions and doubts about my position,” De Roon responded. “I get a very good feeling from the staff that I am appreciated. I am seen as one of the players and always have a chance to play. For me it is important to keep showing it. I think I have a role in the team; I dare to say things and I am someone who observes a lot. In that role I am appreciated by my teammates. ”
De Boer has a fit selection. Daley Blind, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury in recent months, is fully training and seems ready for his return. “Everyone is one hundred percent fit at the moment,” said the trainer, who did not want to confirm whether Blind will take action against Scotland. “Whether he can be deployed tomorrow? We will see that, but at the moment things are going very well. He played ten minutes three times yesterday. He just participated in all that. He didn’t miss any training, so it just looks great. We will consult with the staff: perhaps it is better to start against Georgia, ”said De Boer.
During the press conference, De Boer was asked by various journalists why he opted for a 5-3-2 system. “That has to do with Scotland and also what you see in training,” said the national coach. “Ultimately, you make an assessment and we have now decided to start like this. We want to dominate, also against Scotland. But you often don’t have the ball either. We did that very well against Italy, for example. We hope to be more on the ball tomorrow, but with this system many players will also gain their strength ”, he is convinced. “I think you should look at what you can hurt an opponent with. Of course, you also have to look at your own selection, how your best players will come into their own. With 3-5-2 you can be very dominant. We would like that and I think we have the players for that. “
De Roon is familiar with the system. He has been playing at Atalanta for years in a 5-3-2 line-up. What do he think the benefits are? “For a midfielder it gives you more coverage and security, because you have an extra player in your back. It’s harder for an opponent to get through. So you feel a bit more secure in that, so that you can get out faster and more aggressively. But I also think that there are a lot of spaces that can fall offensively and that players can gain their strength. Because you lure the opponent a bit more, a lot of spaces will fall from an offensive point of view. ” The friendly international match between the Dutch against Scotland starts on Wednesday evening at 8.45 p.m.
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