Aad de Mos has little faith in the 5-3-2 system that Frank de Boer probably wants to use at the European Championship with the the Dutch. The retired coach believes that the formation with five defenders does not fit well with Dutch football culture and would rather see the the Dutch appear at the tournament in the classic 4-3-3.
“De Boer wants to make the Netherlands a copy of Belgium, Atalanta and Chelsea, but that 5-3-2 is against the nature of our football,” De Mos said. The last news. “The players have already made it feel, they prefer to play 4-3-3 and thrive in it.” However, De Boer will probably not opt for that. “The draw that the Dutch national team achieved in Italy last October (it was 1-1 in the Nations League, ed.) strengthens De Boer in that idea. The 4-3-3 remains only a plan B for him. De Boer is of course an adept of Louis Van Gaal, who made a big impression with the 5-3-2 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.”
However, De Mos also sees opportunities for the the Dutch. “The central axis is good. With Daley Blind, Stefan de Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay.” In the front, the former coach considers the Netherlands vulnerable. “You should not think that something will happen to Memphis Depay. We are too dependent on him. Without Depay hardly any assists or goals. Wout Weghorst, who now gets his chance in the striker, is not the player who can break it open individually. That 5-3-2 is not 5-2-3 either: we really don’t have enough weapons in the front. I fear that even if in the group stage this will be painfully apparent, where it could be difficult to get through the defensive blocs of Austria, North Macedonia and Ukraine.”
According to De Mos, a lot at the Dutch will have to come from Depay. “Depay has everything to become the star and then make a big transfer from Lyon, but Ryan Gravenberch is also impressive. He is the best young player we have had in a long time. Moreover, he can also score a goal, unlike to, for example, Frenkie de Jong. Often plays vertically, has a lot of scope. Only De Boer has to set him up, of course … he does not have a basic place yet.” Gravenberch came in against Georgia (3-0 win) in the second half for Frenkie de Jong.
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