with videoRonald Koeman hopes to see an Oranje against the Scots that seems to be counting down to the European Championships next summer in Germany. “If everyone stays fit, it will still be difficult to choose,” says the national coach who gives goalkeeper Mark Flek a starting place against Scotland. “Fleken was fantastic against Greece.”
Birthday boy Ronald Koeman was asked in Zeist, in the run-up to the friendly match with Scotland, to make a comparison with about a year ago. On March 23, 2023, the Dutch team was mercilessly knocked over in France. The 4-0 was a huge blow, but Koeman says he never thought ‘this is the level of the Dutch team’.
“Not at all,” says Koeman. “Away from France was simply not our level. Major mistakes were made during the build-up that were severely punished. But I already knew then: if we are more or less complete, of course you always have injuries, then we have great defenders, great midfielders and if we have everyone on board we also have a lot of quality offensively.”
The national coach did not want to say how he wants to tackle the Scots tomorrow in the Johan Cruijff Arena on a tactical level. He did indicate that Mark Fleks will keep goal and that Quilindschy Hartman will not play because he did not come out of the Heerenveen-Feyenoord match fresh under his arms. The left back may make it to the match on Tuesday evening in Frankfurt against the Germans.
“Fleken will play goalkeeper,” says Koeman. “And Verbruggen then against Germany on Tuesday. Did I think Flokken was quite insecure against Ireland? He was having a bad moment. He exaggerated in possession, but he is actually very good on the ball. By the way, he was great against Greece. Look, building up within your own five meters, I’m just not in favor of that. But Flek can build up and Bart Verbruggen is also good at that.”
Oranje players give birthday coach Koeman a cap
The players of the Dutch national team have given Ronald Koeman a cap for his 61st birthday. “They know that I like that,” said the national coach. “And they sang. If you get footballers so crazy that they sing, then you know it,” Koeman laughed. The national coach said he is happy with his gift. “But if I had to choose a gift myself, I would think more about July 14,” he said, referring to the final of the European Championship.
Memphis Depay
Koeman has been pleased with the return of Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum. “Memphis told me that he wants to play ninety minutes,” Koeman said. “That is his right. But if he tires, you still have to be careful with Memphis. How long he plays depends on how he feels in the final stages. But how he plays and trains again, how he turns and accelerates, it looks good. Now it’s up to us to see how long he can play. ”
The much-discussed Wijnaldum makes a top-fit impression in Zeist. “Wijnaldum is really fit, all statistics prove that,” says Koeman. “It looks good on the training field. It’s not like it has to be great this week or otherwise.”
Nice words for the Al Ettifaq player, who hopes to meet his teammate Jack Hendry in the Arena tomorrow. Wijnaldum received some support from the national coach. The questions about his choice to play in Saudi Arabia caused a stir. And on Tuesday in Zeist, the midfielder received many questions about it. Koeman thinks it should be put to an end.
“Gini has the right to say what he thinks,” says Koeman. “You shouldn’t go back to that anymore. I knew his situation. He would have preferred to go to Feyenoord, but PSG asked too much money. He really looked at other options. What are you doing then? Sitting at home for six months? Al-Ettifaq came and Wijnaldum is free to choose where he will play.”
Starting XI
It remains to be seen whether he will immediately be included in Koeman’s plans again. “I will provide clarity to the players towards the European Championship,” says Koeman. “But we also started in 1988 without Marco van Basten and he became the top scorer that tournament. You will be together for a long time and you will need clarity. There is always another day after a match and then you need substitutions that encourage the starting eleven to stay sharp.
“You can see in small things that the European Championship is starting to come alive. When you talk to the players, for example. The European Championship is in the back of their minds, they all want to be part of it. I have never been able to complain about the experience, but in small things you can see that a European Championship is at stake. What I see on the field is crucial, but other things I see within a group also count. If everyone stays fit, it will still be difficult to choose.”
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2:34 PM
Yesterday
This ends the press conference. Tomorrow the Dutch team will play against Scotland in the Johan Cruijff Arena, which can of course be followed in a live blog on our site!
2:33 PM
Yesterday
The last question Koeman receives is whether he is more optimistic about the Dutch team’s European Championship chances than a few months ago. ,,You always have injuries. But we have developed well. If everyone is fit, especially the two attackers, then we have a lot of quality. Because we have many top defenders and a very good midfield.”
14:29
Yesterday
Is there a big difference between the players from the Premier League and the boys who play in the top foreign leagues? “Particularly abroad, even more attention is paid to strength. But the big difference is that someone like Nathan plays a top match every three days. We still miss that sometimes in the Netherlands. That is why it is important that players make the move at the right time. Even if they do have to play.”
2:25 PM
Yesterday
Koeman does not condemn Wijnaldum’s choice to play football in Saudi Arabia. “Everyone has the right to say what they think. I also know the reason why he made that choice. He wanted to go to Feyenoord, but that turned out not to be financially feasible.”
14:22
Yesterday
What As far as the goalkeepers are concerned, Koeman is already looking into his cards. “Mark Fleken will be in goal against Scotland tomorrow and will be goalkeeper against Germany Bart Verbruggen. We already have in mind which three goalkeepers will go to the European Championship, provided they are all fit.”
14:21
Yesterday
Koeman expects a tough job against Scotland tomorrow. “It is a strong team, which only just finished second behind Spain in the qualifying group. It really is a fighting team, but also with enough individual quality.”
14:18
Yesterday
Depay and Wijnaldum have been back on the training field together for a long time. They have to get used to each other again. “I don’t see that. Memphis does have a history of injuries, but I really see him fit again now. Then it is up to us to see how long that is. Then he must be honest with himself. And Gini is fit. But you also want to see that within this selection, also in terms of position in the group.”
14:13
Yesterday
Ake has I had contact with Sven Botman this morning. His fellow defender will miss the European Championship due to a cruciate ligament injury. “I speak to Sven often and this is very annoying for him. Hopefully he recovers well.”
14:11
Yesterday
Koeman notices that European Championship fever is starting to increase in his selection. “It’s very lively, players now want to show the best of themselves. I expect us to play with full intensity and the result is also important. The more you win, the greater the confidence in the group.”
14:08
Yesterday
Memphis Depay usually has to make do with substitutes at Atlético Madrid and has indicated that he would like to play a full match for the Dutch team. ,,Memphis said that to me too and that is his right,” says Koeman. “But he always wants a lot, we have to be careful with him. He could well play 90 minutes in either match. That depends on how he feels, especially in the latter part of the match.”
2:05 PM
Yesterday
Hartman will be missing against Scotland. The Feyenoord player was injured in Sunday’s match against Heerenveen. “It’s not so bad that he has returned to his club, but he won’t be there tomorrow. No, it doesn’t mess up my plans.”
14:04
Yesterday
The press conference starts with congratulations for Ronald Koeman. The national coach turns 61 today. “Whether the players did something? They sang to me. If you get players that far, that’s a lot.”
14:02
Yesterday
The training of the Dutch team is over. Ronald Koeman and Aké enter the press room.
13:46
Yesterday
Manchester City defender Nathan Aké will soon join Ronald Koeman at the table.
13:33
Yesterday
The Dutch national team is started the final training before Friday’s practice match against Scotland with a fit selection. National coach Ronald Koeman is on the field in Zeist with 25 international players.
13:30
Yesterday
Orange practices Friday night against Scotland in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. It’s scheduled for next Tuesday a friendly match against Germany in Frankfurt on the programme. The international matches will focus on next summer’s European Championships in Germany. The Dutch team is still practicing against Canada and Iceland just before the European final round.
Scotland has qualified for the European Championship as number 2 in the group. The Scots finished behind Spain, but kept Norway behind them. Germany did not have to play qualifying matches as hosts of the European Championship.
13:27
Yesterday
Welcome!
Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog of Ronald Koeman’s press conference. In Zeist, the boxing coach looks ahead to the upcoming practice matches for the Dutch national team. From 2 p.m. he will answer the journalists’ questions, watch and read here!
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Tags: Ronald Koeman reveals play goalkeeper friendly matches Wijnaldum support Football
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