Lawyer warns against underestimating Curaçao’s team in the Nations League

WILLEMSTAD – While the Curaçao national football team prepares for two important Nations League matches against Grenada, national coach Dick Advocaat provides insight into his vision of the team in a press conference. Advocaat emphasizes the positive atmosphere within the selection, but at the same time warns against the pitfall of underestimation, both among players and the team itself.

Curaçao had a mixed start in the Nations League, with a defeat against Saint Lucia (2-1) and a convincing victory against Saint Martin (4-0). Now they face two crucial matches against Grenada, which will determine their position in Group B of the B-League.

Team dynamics

Advocaat repeatedly emphasizes that the mutual atmosphere and team spirit within the Curaçao selection are a great strength. “The joy and enthusiasm within the group are special,” he says. Despite the difficult circumstances, such as the limited number of training days, the atmosphere remains positive. “They are a team that is just doing their best, and that has yielded results so far,” he added.

Yet Advocaat remains critical. He expressed concerns that some players who could further strengthen the team are unavailable or opt out. According to Advocaat, this has a negative impact on the team’s ability to fully develop.

Underestimation

During the press conference, Advocaat was asked whether the team underestimated the opponents during the first match against Saint Lucia. Advocaat confirmed that this was a point of discussion within the staff: “We asked ourselves whether we underestimated the opponent. But if you look at the match again, we could have won 5-2.” Despite the qualities of his team, Advocaat warns that they must take every opponent seriously.

Another recurring theme is the composition of the selection. Advocaat indicates that he often plays with the same core players, because potential reinforcements are often not available. “It remains a problem that some players, who may be better, do not want to come,” Advocaat said. Yet he is satisfied with the players who are present and states that they have proven themselves. “We played six games and lost only once,” he notes. This is a sign that the current group is stable and competitive.

Lawyer points out that tactical consistency is important for the team. Automaticity, such as knowing what to do when possession and loss of ball, is getting better, he says. Still, he notes that physical strength should play a greater role in certain situations, especially when the team is playing against physically strong opponents. This is an important point of attention in the preparation for the matches against Grenada tomorrow and Monday, October 14.

Crucial

Although Advocaat is pleased with the team’s progress, he realizes that the upcoming matches against Grenada will be crucial. “We have to make up for it in the next two games,” he said, referring to the earlier defeat to Saint Lucia. The outcome of these matches will determine Curaçao’s chances of qualifying for the next round of the Nations League and possibly the Gold Cup.

Advocaat remains realistic: “You want to win every match, but that is not always possible.” Yet his optimism shines through: “We always assume profit.” With a mix of experienced players like Leandro Bacuna and young talent, Curaçao seems ready for the challenge, but Advocaat knows there is no room for complacency.

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