Ronald Koeman hit the pitch very hard, with his right foot. Some of his statements can have the same explosion: “é“terrible”“very bad”“We played like a headless chicken.” The coach did not mince his words after the defeat against Austria (3-2) where it is necessary to detach the content of the score: the contrast between the Austrian collective and the association of Dutch individuals was eye-catching.
To defuse the situation, Nathan Aké and Virgil van Dijk were sent to a press conference the next day.If we continue like this, we have no business here.explained the vice-captain and the Dutch captain in unison. This has to change. We have to take responsibility on the ground.” Where Koeman, with this seventh defeat in seventeen games while he had only known four in twenty meetings during his previous mandate, continues to fumble at all levels. Demonstration.
After its victory against the Netherlands, the Austrian “Wunderteam” is the number 1 outsider of the Euro
Behind: Verbruggen and Aké assure, the others worry
There, at least, there is no more debate. After testing or considering Jasper Cillessen, Justin Bijlow, Mark Flkken, Nick Olij and Andries Noppert, Koeman ended up installing Bart Verbruggen as the starting goalkeeper. A winning choice given the ease of the former Anderlecht player’s recovery, always capable of being bluffing on his line. A sign of his confidence, the goalkeeper does not fear a potential penalty shootout, an exercise that has not really been successful for his team in recent years: “Penalties? I’m pretty good.” Aligned on the left, Nathan Aké also reassures. Offensively, the Citizen’s contribution was preponderant against Poland with two assists. And defensively, KDB’s teammate was never in difficulty against a client Ousmane Dembélé.
The rest of the defensive landscape is more worrying. On the right, Denzel Dumries and Lustharel Geertruida have spread their difficulties in a back four. And, in the centre, van Dijk is a captain weakened by his “lack of leadership” said Marco van Basten, who is no longer masked by his average performance. “My last match was not my best”acknowledged the Red before letting go: “Maybe we overestimate ourselves.”
In the middle, the permanent construction site
There are circumstances that invite us to put things into perspective. In preparation, Koeman lost what looked like his starting trio with the injuries of Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners and Maarten de Roon.
Faced with this emergency, the idea was to rely on the automatisms of the PSV pair of defenders Jerdy Schouten – Joey Veerman but the latter was quickly taken out against the Austrians. Which earned Koeman a lot of criticism for this sacrifice and its consequences on the midfield.But everyone knows Joey Veerman can play football.”van Dijk defended it.
This beginning of controversy has chased away another one which concerns the use of Xavi Simons. Summarized by this figure: one. Like his number of goals in seventeen selections. The discrepancy in performance of the irresistible player in club and ghostly with the Oranje illustrates the fumbling of Koeman who may have found the beginnings of a solution against Austria: refocused when he replaced Veerman, Simons delivered his first decisive pass on the international scene…
Ahead, the blur on the right
Simons against Poland, Jérémie Frimpong against France and Donyell Malen against Austria: Koeman has not yet found a permanent player on the right of his attack and the trend is towards Frimpong starting given the ordeal experienced by Malen, who scored an own goal. If, by scoring against Austria, Memphis Depay came within four lengths of Robin Van Persie’s record for goals scored in the national team (50), his irregularity remains suspect. And, in the end, only Cody Gakpo lives up to his status. If his talent is undeniable, his expression is not always readable. Except since the start of the Euro where being aligned on the left allows him to get in well on his right foot. Proof that Koeman can find certain solutions…
Romania (4-1-4-1): Rivet; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Sorescu; M. Marin; Hagi, R. Marin, Stanciu, Coman: Dragus.
Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Aké; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay.
Referee: M. Zwayer (All).
