'Time for Donyell Malen in the starting line-up'

Dutch attacker Donyell Malen left a good impression on Friday evening during his substitute appearance against Scotland (4-0 win). The 25-year-old winger from Borussia Dortmund only needed fourteen minutes to prove himself and did so with a wonderful goal. Just before the final whistle, Malen also had a fabulous pass for Teun Koopmeiners, who shot the ball high over the Scottish goal.

Malen's goal was one of the highlights in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Friday evening, in addition to Tijjani Reijnders' wonderful long shot. AC Milan midfielder Reijnders also played an important role in the Dutch team's fourth goal, as he was responsible for the wonderful assist.

Former international Rafael van der Vaart, analyst on behalf of the NOS, especially enjoyed the way Malen freed himself and then finished with the outside of his foot. “I used to be a Romário fan and I thought this was a bit of a Romário goal. I thought it was very beautiful.”

Grinding in the base

Also in the newest NOS Football Podcast Malen is mentioned. Presenter Jeroen Stekelenburg is full of praise for the attacker BVB. “With Malen you have something different. With Gakpo, Simons and actually Memphis too, players who get into the ball, you have a lot of the same. That was really my feeling in the first half.”

Jeroen Elshoff agrees. “I find Malen so explosive. I have already said this in advance and it has been confirmed for me tonight: I think he belongs in the starting line-up for the Dutch national team at the moment. Malen has scoring ability, speed, depth and an action with which he passes people. He has everything that we are missing a little bit.” Malen played his 29th international match against Scotland. He scored six goals and 4 assists.

According to journalist Jeroen Grueter, Malen even had the 'action of the match'. “That was of course his last action, where he passes two men and puts the ball in the path of Koopmeiners. That was the highlight of the match for me.” Stekelenburg disagrees. “I also thought Reijnders' 1-0 was nice. That will stay with me longer than that action.”

Malen is also having an excellent season at Dortmund. The right foot has played 2,194 minutes so far, spread over 33 official matches. Malen has thirteen goals and five assists.

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