ANP Ronald Koeman
NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 15:22
On the way to the European Championship, the question still hangs over Zeist: which three ‘real’ midfielders will Ronald Koeman choose in the practice matches with the Scots and the Germans? The national coach hinted a day before the friendly match against Scotland that Xavi Simons will not be one of those three.
It is more clear about the goalkeepers: Mark Flokken will keep against Scotland on Friday, Bart Verbruggen against Germany on Tuesday.
The national coach’s words were clear this week: “We are going to play with three midfielders, three real midfielders.” Not as it often happened in recent international matches: with two real midfielders and a deep midfielder behind the two strikers. “Xavi Simons was of course sometimes the ’10’, but in principle I will not choose that.”
Koeman does not choose Simons as one of his three ‘real’ midfielders against Scotland
The national coach does not want to speak of an experiment. Koeman did not reveal exactly what the system will be. “No, you don’t experiment too much in the preparation for the European Championship. But I’ve already said it, this team is able to play different systems.”
“I have the reputation of being a realistic coach. I head the ball, but I want to have the ball, attack, put pressure on the opponent. This is possible with several systems.”
Orange at the NOS
The practice matches of the Dutch national team against Scotland (Friday, March 22) and Germany (Tuesday, March 26) can be watched live on NOS.nl, in the NOS app and on NPO 3. The preview starts at 8:10 PM. The kick-off is at 8.45 pm.
The matches can also be followed live via a live blog on NOS.nl, in the NOS app and via a live report on NPO Radio 1.
What Koeman especially wants to see against Scotland on Friday evening is intensity. “That may sometimes be difficult in practice matches, but in the current situation, in the preparation for the European Championship, that is not a problem. From what I have seen, the hunger is there.” Even if it was only during the singing at breakfast this morning, for the national coach’s 61st birthday. Deployed by doctor Edwin Goedhart.
“Everyone participated happily. Maybe they think: the louder I sing, the sooner I play. But that is not the case,” Koeman joked.
Stains under the bar
In any case, goalkeeper Mark Fleken has sung loud enough, he is playing against Scotland. The other goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen will be under the bar against Germany on Tuesday. “We both want to play a match.” With the exception of Quilindschy Hartman, who is struggling with an injury, everyone is fit.
Koeman wondered this morning: “How old was Rinus Michels when we won the European Championship in ’88?” Sixty years old, younger than Koeman now. “Then I had the idea that we had an old trainer. The players don’t think so now, I asked them. I hope they don’t see me as an old man.”
Koeman spoke to Depay and Wijnaldum: ‘Everyone is entitled to their opinion, well done’
Koeman had to immediately put out a fire this week, after Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum spoke out about two charged topics. Quincy Promes and Saudi Arabia.
“These are guys who are experienced. They have their opinions and they have the right to do so. They have said it and we should not go back on that. That sometimes gets attention that I don’t think is necessary. I have I briefly talked to them about it and I think they did a very good job.”
2024-03-21 14:22:17
#Koeman #choose #Simons #real #midfielders #Scotland
