Georginio Wijnaldum in the starting line-up against France at the European Championship. That is a scenario that would have crossed the minds of few Orange fans a few weeks ago. But the first reports are trickling in about Ronald Koeman’s line-up tonight in the second group match, with room for the 33-year-old midfielder. “Does that make sense? Not really,” says ESPN analyst Kenneth Perez.
A starting place for Wijnaldum, who currently plays for the Saudi Al-Ettifaq, would mean that Joey Veerman moves to the bench. “Veerman played very poorly in the last match. But if it is based on that one match, it is very quick to take him out,” says Perez, who can imagine why the national coach makes this choice against the French. “If this is his choice, he does not want Veerman to lose the ball so much. Apparently he has estimated that he will not improve compared to the first match. Veerman’s loss of ball is of course killing against an opponent like France. If he expects Veerman to do that again, then I understand.”
Pro Shots
In Koeman’s previous period (2018 – 2020), Wijnaldum was a regular in the Dutch national team, but he was that much earlier. The midfielder already played his first final tournament during the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and now has 94 international matches. for Orange. Perez: “I think he will opt for reliability and experience against a strong country like France.” Wijnaldum has proven to be a good tandem with Memphis Depay in the past, but that does not factor into Koeman’s choice, according to Perez. “I do not think so. We are so many years later with choices of clubs, varying fitness and so on. I don’t think that’s a reason.”
There are not many options other than this substitution in midfield. After the loss of players such as Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners and Marten de Roon, Koeman saw his options shrink considerably. Further puzzling with the midfield does not seem logical to Perez: “Then you would have to play with Memphis on ten and Weghorst in the striker, but then it becomes very offensive.”
Frimpong before Simons
Another change that seems to be imminent is that Jeremie Frimpong will play right winger at the expense of Xavi Simons. In European Championship talk, ESPN analyst Marciano Vink already proposed this change on Thursday: “I would play with Frimpong. I would try to keep Hernández in the back. Just instill fear in him.” Vink also saw an advantage for Veerman in drafting Frimpong if he were to play. “He thrives on that. He has to be able to launch someone and not have that short work in front of him and whoever comes into that space. With Frimpong the field becomes longer. If opponents can put pressure forward, Veerman will have a difficult time. If he can get rid of his balls, and the opponent becomes a bit afraid of those balls, then you get a better Veerman.” As it looks now, it is not Veerman, but another midfielder who should take care of those balls.
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Check on choice for Frimpong: “Instill fear in Hernandez”
Marciano Vink explains why he would choose Frimpong against France.
Just like Vink, Perez also thinks the choice for Frimpong is a logical one. “Simons has of course shown little or nothing. But a match like today could have been one in which Simons could have shown himself, because there is more space in the transition. He may be able to do that better than when the rooms are very small. Anyway, Frimpong is lightning fast and he has shown at his club that he can do that well. He has also shown himself well in the practice matches, so I don’t think it is very illogical if he plays given the first group match against Poland.”
Before the European Championship, there was discussion about whether Frimpong would fit into the Dutch national team together with Denzel Dumfries. Two players with many of the same qualities on the right flank. Vink explained in European Championship talk why he might go for Geertruida instead of Dumfries. “I would always keep that combination. Frimpong and Geertruida. You have to strengthen the midfield, because France’s midfield is strong with Griezmann, for example. You can’t do much with Dumfries on the outside now and he would be forced to stay at the back. Then he has to cover Mbappé or Thuram. Then I think Geertruida might be a better defender in that,” said the analyst.
Perez does not agree with the choice of Geertruida. “Dumfries is one of the most constant factors in the Dutch national team in the last few years. I wouldn’t know why Geertruida should play there. Wouldn’t it be crazy not to include one of the most important players of recent years? Dumfries should not stand so high now, because then he will be next to Frimpong. It is on the outside and not on the inside as Simons did. Those players are of course not idiots, so if you tell him to stay at the back more, he will do it.”
Tonight, Jan Joost van Gangelen and Hans Kraay Jr. look ahead to the Netherlands – France match in ESPN Today. You can see that preview live on ESPN 1 from 8:00 PM.
