Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 5:10 PM • Last update: 5:43 PM
Stefan de Vrij has fully proven himself upon his return to the starting line-up of the Dutch national team, according to rapporteur Arnold Mühren on behalf of De Telegraaf. The former Dutch international thinks it is a shame that Ronald Koeman stuck to the conservative formation with only two attackers against Ireland (1-0 win). “The defenders now became the best players, Stefan de Vrij gets an eight from me,” said Mühren.
“He was by far the best player,” continues the assist provider of Marco van Basten’s miracle goal in the 1988 European Championship final. “De Vrij radiates calm, chooses his position excellently and also dribbles into midfield.”
De Vrij showed this, for example, with the only goal in the match, by dribbling around his opponent and moving forward with a good pass. Wout Weghorst was able to turn around the halfway line and eventually score with a nice shot in the short intersection.
It was already a year and a half ago for De Vrij that he was in the starting line-up for the Dutch national team. The 31-year-old Internazionale defender has seen all his competitors (Lutsharel Geertruida, Matthijs de Ligt and Jurriën Timber) fall away with injuries recently and, according to Mühren, made optimal use of his new opportunity.
“That is great for someone who has not played for the Dutch team for a year and a half,” said the Volendammer. “You see that he has experience, plays football in Italy and sees things before the situation arises. He also had an assist.”
Ronald Koeman gets a measly 6
Mühren is critical of Koeman’s tactics. “Against a country like Ireland, number 57 in the world, you just have to be able to play 4-3-3. Put the opponent under pressure.”
Somehow Mühren understands that Koeman wants to continue with the system with three centre-backs. “But it doesn’t have to be that way against countries like Ireland, Gibraltar or Greece. Before half-time you actually play counter football in your own half, which is not typical for the Netherlands.”
2023-11-19 16:10:00
#Telegraaf #report #player #Dutch #team
