Tyrell Malacia and Lutsharel Geertruida made an impression on Sunday afternoon with their performances against Fortuna Sittard. In Studio Football it was extensively about Feyenoord and the performances of the two backs were also discussed. Both players were suggested as serious options for the Dutch national team.
Ibrahim Afellay kicked off the song of praise for Malacia. “That’s just a pit bull. You really don’t like to play against that,” he said. “You also get so much sympathy for that boy. He is always cheerful and positive.” Rafael van der Vaart endorsed those words. “He’s so sharp, that’s unbelievable. I can’t remember when we had a left back in the Netherlands who tackles so sharply.”
“He is also very self-critical”, Arno Vermeulen added. “You read interviews about his own mentality and what he needed to get better at, that he should not let himself be taken out of his game now and then. I think he is a boy with a lot of learning capacity. trainer can provide things, which he then wants to do something with. He really won the sprint between a number of potential left backs at the Dutch national team.”
His main competitor is AZ left back Owen Wijndal. “That is a completely different choice,” said Van der Vaart, “but I feel like Malacia is ahead. That tackle against Marseille, he proved that he is an absolute topper.” Vermeulen pointed to Wijndal’s attacking qualities (including 9 assists in the Eredivisie), but the men at the table agreed that Malacia is much further defensively.
“Defensively, Malacia can fend for itself on its own,” Afellay said. “He has such an edge over Wijndal in that. The only thing he has to add to his game to get even better is that he remains a bit calmer. Every now and then he makes his choices at 200 kilometers per hour. a little calmer, stay under the ball now and then and play a little simpler. Then this boy can really take another step.”
geertruida
Malacia already made his international debut this season, but according to Vermeulen, teammate Geertruida can also take that step soon. “He also presents himself. He has made really huge steps, especially after the winter break. There is also a vacancy in the right back position in the Dutch national team. Dumfries is the first man, but many people have already tried them out. he also take a seat.”
“Apart from those two goals today, but how he responds and always walks into midfield…”, said Vermeulen about what Geertruida could add to the Orange squad. PEC Zwolle captain Bram van Polen, a guest in the program, added: “His goals are also a weapon. He already made five last season. And of course he also has his physique.”
