Wessel Antes
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Although the Dutch national team recorded a 4-0 practice victory over Scotland on Friday evening, not all internationals can count on compliments. The Dutch media are full of praise for a number of players, while others are completely put through the wringer. Jeremie Frimpong, Xavi Simons and Mats Wieffer are accused of not showing themselves as they do at their club.
Journalist Mike Verweij from The Telegraph has not enjoyed the Dutch at all. “The Frenkie de Jong-loze Netherlands, which had possession of the ball in a 3-4-3 formation and operated with a box in midfield consisting of Mats Wieffer, Reijnders, Wijnaldum and not for a moment to put the Scots with their backs against the wall.”
Wieffer, who was already criticized during the first half by NOScommentator Arman Avsaroglu, also suffered in the critical morning newspaper. “Xavi Simons, Mats Wieffer and Jeremie Frimpong excel every week at their clubs, but for the Dutch team it was the dissonance in the first half. Wieffer even presented the biggest opportunity of the match to Lawrence Shankland.” Feyenoord's strongman was substituted after sixty minutes.
According to Verweij, Koeman's brigade 'never reached an acceptable level at any time'. The journalist concludes that there is work to be done. “On Tuesday in the practice match in and against Germany, a higher level must be reached to be considered one of the outsiders or let alone the favorites for the European Championship. No matter how high Nathan Aké tried to set the bar this week.”
The Algemeen Dagblad
Sjoerd Mossou, journalist on behalf of the Algemeen Dagblad, mentions in the morning newspaper about a distorted result. “The Dutch won a very flattering 4-0 thanks to a flashy final phase, but the match hardly offered guidance or cheerful new insights.” Mossou even thought it was a weak international match for a long time.
“The Dutch looked awkward and vulnerable, and were only occasionally threatening by gambling on depth behind the Scots' last line. If Koeman wants to continue building towards the European Championship with this style of play, a huge improvement will have to be made, both in possession of the ball and in the transition moments.”
Mossou also writes about the returning tandem at the Dutch team. “Memphis was one of the few Dutch attackers to reach a decent level with the ball, while Wijnaldum headed in the 2-0 after 72 minutes. Yet the interaction between the two thirty-somethings was not too exciting, especially because the Al Ettifaq midfielder played rather invisibly. Wijnaldum undeniably adds depth to the Dutch midfield, but since leaving Liverpool in 2021 he has never reached his top level again.”
Mossou sees no threat to Denzel Dumfries in the previously praised Frimpong. “His play was extremely restless on the ball, but the Ghanaian Dutchman proved to be especially vulnerable defensively. Early in the match, Frimpong choked on Andy Robertson and after seventeen minutes he was beaten inside by a Ryan Christie header.”
De Volkskrant
Journalist Willem Vissers van De Volkskrant mainly highlights Tijjani Reijnders' opening goal. “A beautiful goal in an ugly match. It was as if the Mona Lisa was on display in a rickety, leaky shed. Because the Scots played better football. Those who used to play direct play, high balls and strikers without front teeth generally found it easier to find each other. Their positional play was better than that of the Dutch team.”
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