Change in Hierarchy: Memphis Depay Discusses Evolution of Dutch National Team

The hierarchy in the Dutch national team has changed in the past ten years, Memphis Depay said on Sunday. Memphis and Denzel Dumfries attended the Oranje press conference on Sunday morning and discussed the friction around and within the Oranje lately. “The Dutch national team is an environment where everyone can say something,” says Memphis.

“There are many players with character, many players with experience. There are different opinions, but we share them. That makes the process beautiful. That’s how you can be successful. The hierarchy is different, I think that is also due to the new generation “There are clear lines,” the attacker explains. Memphis says that used to be different. Young players were then less able to share their opinions. The attacker has been with the Dutch national team for the past eleven years, Memphis made his debut in 2013.

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Memphis: “Maybe the tournament is just starting now”

The Dutch attacker discusses the recent friction surrounding the Dutch national team.

“You can’t force the DNA of the team”

“I think everyone should have an opinion, but not everyone has to say it all the time. You have leaders in the team and people who follow. You have that at work, you have that everywhere. There is now a balance in that, that wasn’t there before,” Memphis explains. “When I ask myself which is better, that is a difficult question. Now you are very close with a group, in the past you had four or five players who were above a group. They also asserted themselves. So in the past there may have been more clarity “But what you have now is part of the team. The DNA of a team is created, you cannot force it. Certain players have to take their role and then the rest will follow naturally.”

“It is logical that there are irritations”

There has been a lot of talk in the selection of national coach Ronald Koeman in recent days. In the last duel with Austria, they lost 2-3. “You have to take stock: what needs to be improved? We are in a process,” says Memphis. “Maybe the tournament is only just starting now. The journey is never perfect. It is normal that there is friction. Normally you see your family every day, that is different now. If the result is not as you want, it is logical that there are irritations. That is human.”

Dumfries fit again

Denzel Dumfries spoke highly of the 30-year-old Memphis: “He is an important player for us, in his creativity and doings. In his way of being, he is a forerunner for us. He tells it like it is and is an example for this group.”

The defender also shared that he is fit again. Contrary to what people thought, he was not struggling with groin problems. Dumfries had problems with his hamstring, which is why he was on the bench against Austria. “It is never fun to be on the bench. This season I have had a different season compared to previous years, in terms of fitness. It was a new situation for me. I just have to communicate well with the medical staff and the trainer. I have no complaints about my groin. It was my hamstring. I no longer have any problems with it.”

The Dutch team will play against Romania in the eighth finals on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.