DThree wins from three games, most goals scored in the preliminary round (8), sovereignly qualified for the round of 16. For the national team of the Netherlands everything should be fine before the European Championship round of 16 with the Czech Republic on Sunday (6 p.m., ARD and Magenta TV). But it is not. Instead, there is criticism: from ex-professionals, experts, journalists. To national coach Frank de Boer, 51, on his game system, but also on individual players like Memphis Depay.
The complaints about de Boer have been with him since he took office in September last year. Former Bundesliga professional Erik Meijer told WELT AM SONNTAG: “The fans are quite critical of him. He has inherited a difficult legacy. His predecessor Ronald Koeman pulled us out of a whole deep hole and rebuilt us. And brought the team so far that they even annoyed Germany. That was good, smart football. “Koemann left, de Boer took over in the Corona crisis when the players could not compete with a full battery:” Before the EM, it was difficult against smaller opponents. “
In criticism: attacker Memphis Depay (left) and national coach Frank de Boer
Source: AFP
After finishing third at the 2014 World Cup, Guus Hiddink, 74, took over from Louis van Gaal, 69. He resigned in mid-2015, under his successor Danny Blind, 59, Oranje missed the 2016 European Championship – and thus for the first time since the 2002 World Cup, participating in a major tournament again. But the bottom was not yet over, because the qualification for the 2018 World Cup failed. In addition to Blind, another national coach was worn out: Dick Advocaat, 73, who had jumped in for five games, but could not prevent the embarrassment.
De Boer failed three times in a row
After that, Ronald Koeman, 58, took over, who confidently led the “Elftal” to Euro 2020 (including a 4-2 win against the Germans), but left for FC Barcelona in August last year. So now de Boer, who after a successful time at Ajax (until 2016) failed in a row at Inter Milan, Crystal Palace and even Atlanta United.
His 5-3-2 game system is also viewed critically. Actually, Oranje is a 4-3-3 – a bit of spectacle always has to be there. But de Boer pulls his line through, cannot be influenced. Not from planes flying over the Dutch training ground in Zeist and calling for a return to 4-3-3 on a banner. And not from ex-professionals like Rafael van der Vaart, who is now an expert at the public broadcaster NOS. The former HSV player said in a live broadcast at the beginning of the European Championship: “No to 5-3-2. If we play like this, we don’t even have to transfer the games! “
The former Schalke professional Youri Mulder even attacked de Boer directly in an interview: “Unfortunately, he is not very confident. Predecessors like van Gaal and Ronald Koeman have shown the strength of real leaders. De Boer, on the other hand, often mumbles to himself, sometimes seems absent when he speaks, and that’s difficult for a Bondscoach, who is always a bit our head of state in the days of a big tournament. He provided a lot of fuel for the discussions. “
So he nominated 34 players for the provisional squad of the Netherlands and then claimed that he had personally informed the eight players he had to delete about their loss. A video by Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) shows how personally. He was giving a live interview when his phone answered with a written message from de Boer that he was not going to the EM. In addition, the coach sorted out Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen because of a corona disease before the start of preparation. Much too premature for the taste of many fans, because now Ajax substitute keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, 38, is between the posts.
The star of the team is considered arrogant and capricious
His assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy backed de Boer: “Frank is a coach who gives you the feeling of being part of the process. Because he discusses everything with the players and the staff, everyone is involved, which is fantastic. And in the end he has to bring all the information together and make the decision. “
The coach must also jump to the side of his player Memphis Depay. The offensive man, who moves from Lyon to Barcelona, is considered arrogant and capricious. His appearances at the European Championship – especially in the first two group games – were not convincing. De Boer: “I know that he can still improve. When it really comes down to something, he’ll be there. I trust that. “
External criticism, external defense – in the Netherlands it sounds as if the “Elftal” have been eliminated. She is the favorite against the Czech Republic today. But the nagging will probably only stop when Oranje wins the first title since the European Championship triumph in 1988.
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