Hans Kraay junior can largely agree with the line-up of the the Dutch that national coach Ronald Koeman has devised for the European Championship qualifying match in and against France. That’s what the analyst says during ESPN Today. The fact that Kenneth Taylor plays and Mats Wieffer is on the reserve bench leads to misunderstanding at Kraay.
Many expected Wieffer in the base, but Koeman opts for Taylor on the left of midfield. The Ajax player plays in that line together with Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum. “I would choose Wieffer 100 percent, next to De Roon,” Kraay immediately noted. “Whoever plays on the left or right. Koeman will undoubtedly say that Taylor always plays on the left side at Ajax and can do that well now, but that doesn’t matter to me at all. I really choose Wieffer at the moment, there I wouldn’t have doubted it for a second.”
The analyst of ESPN already saw on Monday that the Feyenoord midfielder belongs in the base. “I was at the training and then you see all those guys with their arms around each other, because they have not seen each other for a long time. Then you see Wieffer, who is a bit uncomfortable and does not seek support from anyone. But then comes there is a positional play and all the balls go well, he always plays them in on the right foot. Then you immediately see that everyone comes to him to pat him on the shoulder. Then you immediately belong. He was very good right away and I I really don’t understand why he isn’t playing.”
Still, Kraay prefers to remain positive about Koeman. The way in which the national coach has profiled himself in recent days, has earned respect from the former professional. He has said with full conviction that players who have been selected also enjoy his full confidence and those young boys are happy with that. He makes a very good impression on me.”