Memphis Depay will not return to the Netherlands national team under head coach Xavi Hernández, according to an analysis published by Algemeen Dagblad. The former Barcelona manager has overseen four matches with Oranje since taking charge, recording two draws and two wins without a single defeat in UEFA Nations League play.
Tactical Shift Under Xavi Leaves Record Scorer Out
The decision to bypass Memphis stems from a distinct tactical shift implemented by the Spanish coach. During the opening international period, Xavi emphasized aggressive pressing and high-intensity front-line defense, a philosophy that reportedly does not align with the profile of the Corinthians forward. “The national coach said he no longer wants to see fear, but courage. Aggressive pressing up front is the best defense,” the newspaper noted from the manager’s remarks. Because of this strategic demand, Algemeen Dagblad projected that Xavi will not revert to using Memphis as his central striker. Should that prediction hold, the forward will remain on 112 international appearances, a career in which he established himself as the country’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals alongside 35 assists. His 35 assists are also good for a record in that statistic, and he was part of the squad at the European Championship last summer in a supporting role. Under Ronald Koeman, Memphis belonged almost standardly to the Netherlands squad, a choice former manager Gertjan Verbeek understood because of their relationship of trust, though Xavi judges that differently having experienced him at FC Barcelona.
Wout Weghorst Omission Sparks Debate over Target Man
While Memphis remains out of the picture, fellow striker Wout Weghorst has also found himself on the outside looking in. The 34-year-old FC Twente forward acknowledged his omission while remaining available for selection, telling regional broadcaster RTV Oost that the transition is a natural part of team evolution. “It doesn’t have to be definitive, but it is also a natural process that is set in motion,” Weghorst said. The absence of a physical target man has generated domestic discussion, with analysts in De Telegraaf pointing out that Oranje missed a traditional pinch-hitter during tight matches against compact defenses. Meanwhile, former manager Gertjan Verbeek told FCUpdate that he supports Xavi’s bold stance on Memphis, arguing that the coach wants players who put the collective ahead of individual prominence. Verbeek called it a good and courageous choice, adding that with Memphis you bring in many other things because he is never truly a team player and always wants to stand out, preferring players who completely place themselves at the service of the collective.
Youth Prospects Feature as Oranje Leads Group B
In place of established veterans, the technical staff has leaned heavily into youth during the opening qualifying phase. Injuries to Donyell Malen and Brian Brobbey opened the door for younger prospects such as Mexx Meerdink and Joshua Zirkzee to feature prominently in attack. Oranje currently sits at the top of Group B with eight points from four matches, following a pair of 2-1 victories over Serbia, a 1-1 draw with Germany, and a 2-2 stalemate against Greece.
Zirkzee Scores Winning Goal Against Serbia
The recent matches also provided playing time to other fresh names, as Meerdink started against the Serbians last Sunday before being substituted at halftime, allowing substitutes Gjivai Zechiël and Jorrel Hato alongside Ruben van Bommel to bring a fresh impulse on the field. Zirkzee, who has only played twenty minutes for Manchester United in the Premier League this season, scored the 2-1 winning goal against Serbia last Sunday after Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring, though Zirkzee is a completely different type of center forward and not such a fanatical battering ram as Weghorst, like Pierre van Hooijdonk and Luuk de Jong also proved their value as battering rams. The analyst noted that it is possible to send Virgil van Dijk forward for the last five minutes, but not for the last half hour, while praising players like Joey Veerman alongside the other new faces. Xavi still appears to be searching, and these Nations League matches are ideal for him to become a lot wiser.
