Dutch Team Week: Veurink’s First Impression

• Rivkah on the Field

  reporter NOS Sport

A farewell, a debutant, a draw and a win in a good football country. That is the proceeds of the first training camp under national coach Arjan Veurink with the Dutch national team. What stands out after these nine days now that the Dutch team has entered a new phase?

‘Energy’ is the word that was mentioned the most during this period: players want to give everything to convince the new coach and to forget the failed European Championship as quickly as possible. That energy is immediately visible on the training field on day one. In addition to national coach Veurink, new assistants Martijn Reuser and Roos Kwakkenbos, goalkeeper coach Eline Sol and performance coach Iwan Redan are also in front of the group for the first time.

It is immediately noticeable that high intensity is required from the team. Redan’s enthusiasm during the warm-up is contagious and sets the tone for the rest of the training. Ella Peddemors, who will make her debut against Poland, curls a few balls beautifully into the intersection.

And for those who are afraid that it will become quiet on the training field after the farewell of Sherida Spitse: Kwakkenbos appears to be a worthy replacement with her loud field voice.

In the days that follow, we don’t get to see much on the field: the training sessions are closed to the media or only accessible for the first fifteen minutes. Yet a change in atmosphere is palpable. While the press is still working in the players’ hotel in Gdansk, Poland, the players are also walking around quietly there.

The group seems more relaxed than during the hectic summer in which there was a lot going on within the team and the grumpiness became increasingly difficult to disguise to the outside world. “A lot has been worked on the culture this week,” said national coach Veurink after the practice match against Canada.

He opts for an open and transparent approach in interviews. Honest if he doesn’t like the game, but also about a possible return of Daniëlle van de Donk or his choice for a new captain. Guessing how the eleven names will be placed in a line-up on the field seems to be a thing of the past: Veurink simply tells you before a match who plays where and in what formation.

Esmee Brugts is no longer a left back, but a left winger. Janou Levels and Marisa Olislagers immediately show potential in their old position. Fresh faces in a selection that only includes three people in their thirties (not including Spitse). Veurink – who is known as a tactical mastermind – wants his team to be two things: “dynamic and difficult for the opponent to analyze”.

The first half against Canada in particular provides support for this. It results in a win against a country in the top ten of the world, for the first time in two years. Veurink: “If we can show this structurally, we are on the right track.”