EURO 2024 Team Guide - Group D - Netherlands
After a shaky qualification campaign, Jack Holland looks at whether the Dutch's solid defence will make up for their lack of clinical goalscorer.
Country:
Netherlands
FIFA World Ranking:
7
Qualification Record:
2nd Place
W6 D0 L2
Goals For – 17
Goals Against – 7
Group:
Group D
Highest Ever Euros Finish:
Winners (1988)
Previous Euros Appearances:
11
Top International Goal Scorer (in Squad):
Memphis Depay (45)
Squad:
Preliminary Squad:
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Xavi Simons (PSG), Joey Veerman (PSV), Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq)
Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Memphis Depay (unattached), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Wout Weghorst (Burnley)
The Gaffer:
Ronald Koeman (appointed September 2016)
Gaffer Bio:
Koeman is a huge figure in Dutch football, capped 78 for the Dutch national team during a distinguished playing career that saw him play for all of the country’s top three clubs; Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV – all of whom he would later go on to manage.
After hanging up his boots, Koeman got his first taste of international coaching in Guus Hiddink’s Dutch setup for the 1998 World Cup. Koeman began his management career at Vitesse shortly after and would go on to manage 10 different clubs spread out over 4 countries. Critics may highlight that these spells have only yielded the one trophy since 2009.
This is Koeman’s second spell in charge of the national team, his first rather promising tenure cut short by him taking the Barcelona job in 2020. In that time he revived the fortunes of a team which had failed to qualify for two consecutive tournaments, qualifying them for Euro 2020 and also taking his side to the inaugural Nations League final.
Who Could Do with Him?
The Netherlands manager has been about a bit. Had he not already had a hack at the role, he could have been in consideration for a Barcelona that seems a little lost at present and which has a propensity to hiring its former players. A move to Portugal, however, where the Dutchman has had property for over twenty years and has visited regularly ever since the late 1980s may suit Koeman. There may be an opening at Sporting Lisbon if their current manager has his way, though his history with Benfica would potentially prove prohibitive – perhaps a move to the latter given his history of returning to clubs would be more appropriate.
Formation / Style of Play:
5-3-2
This will not be a Total Football iteration of the Oranje, though Koeman would do worse than point towards the most physical and defensive minded Dutch team in recent years being the most successful – reaching the 2010 World Cup final. The Netherlands’ lack of serious attacking talent and strength in defence have shaped an approach that emphasizes solidity at the back but retention of the ball. Expect this to manifest itself in a formation with 5 defenders (or at least 3 centre backs), though it would not be a complete surprise if he went with a 4-3-3 as he did in a recent friendly vs Scotland.
Strengths:
The Netherlands have a wealth of talent at centre back, with Virgil van Dijk the pick of the bunch. The Liverpool captain has undergone a return to form over the previous 10 months and will be looking to make an impact for his country at a European Championships for the first time given their failure to qualify in 2016 and missing the last edition through injury. He could be partnered with any of Nathan Ake, Stefan De Vrij, Matthijs de Ligt or Micky van de Ven in what would arguably be one of the strongest centre back pairings in the competition.
Weaknesses:
Koeman is facing an injury headache striking the very spine of his side. His first choice keeper, Justin Bijlow, is sidelined and the alternatives to him deeply inexperienced at international level though he will be more concerned about the potential absences of Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay.
With or without Depay, the Netherland’s chronic lack of a clinical out and out goalscorer persists. Long gone are the days of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie, however much of a handful that Wout Weghorst can occasionally make himself. Cody Gakpo’s performances at the last World Cup undoubtedly helped seal a move to the Premier League but whether he can lead the line for a Netherlands side looking to go deep into the tournament is another matter.
Player to Watch:
Jeremie Frimpong
A key player in a Bayer Leverkusen side who were a game from an unbeaten treble season, Frimpong may not even get a place in the Netherlands XI. The former Celtic man faces stern competition from Denzel Dumfries on the right flank and has only played three times for the national side. However, should Koeman start with Frimpong either at right wing back or further forward as he did in a recent friendly against Canada (where Frimpong opened his scoring account at international level) expect a high level of performance from the pacey 23 year old whose displays last season have alerted many of Europe’s top clubs.
One for the Future:
Xavi Simons
Another player who is not a guaranteed starter, Simons is coming off the back of yet another impressive club campaign. Having previously scored 18 league goals the season prior for PSV Eindhoven, Simons returned to PSG who activated a buyback clause in the youngsters contract. He was immediately loaned to RB Leipzig, where he finished the season with the second highest assists and 8 league goals. Simons already has international tournament experience under his belt, becoming the youngest player to ever feature in the knockout stages of a World Cup for the Netherlands during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and surely represents the future of this side for many more campaigns to come.
Unlucky to Miss Out: A Great Last Minute Call Up:
Ian Maatsen
An almost inexplicable decision. Chelsea’s on loan left back played a big part in Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League push last season but was dropped three days before the final by Koeman. ‘Daley Blind had a fantastic season with Girona, Micky van de Ven plays left back at Tottenham, Nathan Ake…’ was the manager’s justification. If the 34-year-old Blind’s lack of pace is exposed during the tournament expect questions to be raised about Koeman’s decision, one which could prove fatal in the latter stages should the Netherlands progress.
[Editor’s Note: Maatsen was given a late call up while holidaying on a yacht off Mykonos, prompting his Dad to jump in the car and drive to Germany to drop off Ian’s boots. Lovely, eh.]
Likely Line Up:
Verbruggen; Blind, Ake, van Dijk, de Ligt, Dumfries; Schouten, de Jong, Reijnders; Depay, Gakpo
Fixtures:
Matchday 1 – Poland vs Netherlands – 16th June
Matchday 2 – Netherlands vs France – 21st June
Matchday 3 – Netherlands vs Austria – 25th June
Verdict:
It is now twenty years since the Netherlands last reached the semi finals of the European Championships and you wouldn’t necessarily bet against them from at least repeating the feat this time around should they progress from a reasonably tricky group that includes France, the side that pipped them in qualification. Their captain van Dijk will be mindful that this is likely to be not just his first but potentially his last appearance at a Euros and will want to make his mark and the key to any possible success at the championships will lie with him and his defensive partners.
However, they are not considered one of the favourites for this trophy for a reason. They lack star power in several areas, not least up front, and injury concerns for de Jong threaten to overshadow a campaign across their eastern border that their fans will no doubt be relishing. What is for certain is that whatever their team lacks in colour will be more than made up by those travelling supporters in the stands and in the streets of Germany this summer.
Jack Holland (@JackHolland1993)