After bankruptcy, there’s media scolding!
At the World Cup in Qatar, Holland was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Argentina. “Oranje” lost 5:6 after penalties.
With the Argentina exit, Louis van Gaal’s (71) third term as bond coach ended. After the defeat, the ex-Bayern coach announced that he would let his contract as national coach expire at the end of the year.
Van Gaal: “I will not continue as national coach, that was my last game in my third term.” Ronald Koeman (59) has already been confirmed as his successor.
Holland’s media are anything but squeamish about the outgoing national coach. On the contrary: The magazine “Voetbal International” reckoned with van Gaal ice-cold after the elimination!
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The magazine: “Van Gaal wanted to be world champion so badly that he bartered the core values of Dutch football, which are attacking, adventurous and creative play. Oranje may not have lost a game under him, but they did lose their image.”
Holland went 20 games unbeaten in regular time during van Gaal’s third tenure. The “Elftal” only lost against Argentina on penalties.
“Voetbal International” doesn’t care. The magazine continues: “As Oranje you have to nurture a culture that has made Dutch players and coaches export hits. It is only because of this culture, their own DNA, that Dutch players and coaches are loved and sought after abroad.”
At the tournament in Qatar, the Dutch under van Gaal had distinguished themselves primarily through their defensive style of play. Instead of the offensive 4-3-3, with which Rinus Michels (†77) once shaped the Dutch football DNA, van Gaal relies on a five-man chain.
Van Gaal criticism from “Voetbal International” comes as no surprise. The magazine was one of the media boycotted by van Gaal.
