Dumfries acts like Cruijff and gives Van Gaal a wingback weapon again

• Jesse Wieten

  editor Dutch national team

It was the wingbacks’ victory against the United States (3-1) on Saturday. With that also the victory of Louis van Gaal’s system. In his system of the day, the wingbacks, the full-backs who cover the entire flank, are important weapons in his nefarious World Cup plans.

But then the wingbacks have to deliver. Denzel Dumfries and Daley Blind did that against the US with involvement in all goals. “We score two goals from wingback to wingback, which I am very proud of,” said the national coach.

Significant was the statistic that with his goal and two assists, Dumfries became the third Dutch player of all time to be involved in at least three goals in one World Cup match. The other two? No backs. Attacking greats. Rob Rensenbrink and Johan Cruyff.

Cruijff did that at the 1974 World Cup with two goals and an assist against Argentina. Rensenbrink did it with three goals against Iran (3-0) and with three assists and a goal against Austria. “That’s nice,” Dumfries responded to this statistic. “But the most important thing is the victory.”

In 1974, Cruijff and the Orange were not just about victory, but also about the beauty of the game. That worked wonderfully. We’re still talking about it. Total football. It was the time of the 4-3-3 system with wing tips and with Cruijff as the central man and pivot of the attacking game.

Now we are already happy with a bit of total football, such as In the 10th minute against the US. Memphis Depay scored on a pass from Dumfries after an attack that counted 20 passes. The Oranje van Cruijff had not achieved that. Never before had so many passes preceded a Dutch World Cup goal.

“A fantastic team goal,” Dumfries said of the opening goal. “In this you saw all the key points of our system.”

Blind had an explanation for the upswing: “Sometimes teams collapse against us, then it is more difficult for us as wingbacks to get over it. Now there was space. backs, because they came up high too. It all plays into it.”

Last year, Dumfries was the star of the Orange at the European Championship with two goals, one of the few bright spots. Here in Qatar he could not make his mark. No goal, no assist, no chance created, lots of ball loss.

After the duel with the US, Dumfries indicated that the criticism of his performance had affected him. “It’s not easy being a footballer sometimes,” he said. “The criticism does something to you. You try to be important and do your best for the team. Mental resilience is important in that.”

Dumfries confessed that he had sought outside help to get out of his slump. Via Zoom, Dumfries spoke twice in Qatar with sports psychologist Annemieke Zijerveld, who has been assisting him on a regular basis since his Sparta days.

“It’s the first time I think: it’s nice to talk about that,” he said. “I’m just very honest about that. It has been quite difficult lately and mentally tough, it could be better in the group stage. Then you have to find your inner peace to return to basics. I am grateful to her for that. “

Blind, good for the assist on Dumfries and maker of the second goal on Dumfries’ instructions, had also received the comment. “But in the Netherlands it is more often negative than positive anyway,” said Blind. “It wouldn’t bother me what anyone thinks.”

“This is a good boost for both of us,” said Dumfries. “But above all I am very happy that I was able to help the team and I am also very happy for Daley.”

Dumfries doesn’t have to worry about criticism right now. From the Khalifa International stadium, former international Pierre van Hooijdonk noticed an improvement: “We have seen the old Dumfries again and an attacking Blind. Then you actually add something to the team and the way of playing.”

Dumfries’ performance was acclaimed beyond the national borders. The Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote: “Dumfries is back in his super version. In the group stage it was not sparkling what he showed, but now he dominated the right wing as usual.”

“First Denzel, then Washington”, the German Bild referred to the American actor Denzel Washington, after whom Dumfries is named. “The Dutch star sends the American team back to the capital Washington.”

They have the trust of the national coach anyway, the wingbacks. They can get back to work against Argentina on Friday. In 1974 it became 4-0, without wingbacks, but with Cruijff.