At the press conference on Wednesday morning, Daley Blind was asked whether he feels comfortable in the 5-3-2 system used by national coach Frank de Boer for the Dutch national team. There is much criticism of the the Dutch system from the outside world, but there are no problems for Blind for the time being. The multifunctional defender also looks back on previous participations in major tournaments, such as the World Cup in 2014. He will never forget the 5-1 victory over Spain.
“At Ajax we play a completely different system. So I don’t want to say whether it is really made for me”, Blind said at the press meeting in Zeist. “I can handle different positions well and I think I can adapt well there. It’s no problem for me.” Blind is then told by a journalist that he sometimes gets into trouble at speed, to which a clear answer follows. “That’s an item that you guys make so big. If anything is said about Daley Blind it’s this and this is good and let’s just say that speed is his lesser point. I don’t value that at all. There are very few opponents who have beaten me one on one on speed. I am less concerned with that, if you are lined up well you will get into less trouble,” said the confident Blind.
The defender then draws a comparison with the 2014 World Cup, when the the Dutch squad was last active in a final round. On June 13, it will be exactly seven years after the historic 5-1 victory over Spain. “That match may have changed my life,” Blind recalls. “That ball (the pass on Robin van Persie’s 1-1, ed.), that match, that will always remain a special moment for me. It is also special to know that such images come back at almost every final tournament. That is special and fun. It often happens and you enjoy it for a while, and then we continue to the order of the day,” said the sober the Dutch international.
Blind then returns to the big victory over the Spaniards. “The whole world is watching that match. Your name is everywhere and the goal (Van Persie, ed.) is seen everywhere. I think I delivered a very good performance in that game, which may also have sparked the interest of certain clubs. Which allowed me to make a wonderful step to Manchester United. I don’t know if it was necessarily because of that game, but such a game at the World Cup does have a lot of impact on your life.”
Football zone keeps you informed about everything about EURO 2020
Curious about the current position, the competition program and much more European Championship news? Click here!
Related
More sports news