Valentijn Driessen was visibly upset after the Netherlands’ 3-2 defeat against Austria. Not out of disappointment, but because of the poor performance that the Dutch team delivered. The Dutch sports journalist was very hard on the national team. From Veerman and Xavi Simons to national coach Ronald Koeman, everyone had to believe it.
“I have never seen the Dutch team play as poorly in my life as in the first half. No duels were won and no ball arrived,” Driessen immediately put his finger on the wound. “I have experienced this very rarely. It really didn’t make any sense at all. If you play like that on this stage, then you have no business being here at all.”
Driessen did not spare his criticism. Joey Veerman in particular had to suffer. The PSV midfielder was taken off after just 35 minutes and burst into tears on the bench. Driessen did not spare him. “He made a dramatic turn. This is really not possible at this level. I think this is the end of Veerman’s international career. He could make it happen here, but nothing came of it. Veerman was not ready to deal with the pressure. The Orange shirt is much too heavy for him,” said the implacable Driessen.
Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen were also dragged through the mud. “The Oranje shirt is also too heavy for Xavi. He provided one assist, the rest of the time he played another dramatic match. Malen also didn’t hit a ball today. He had the chance to make it 1-1 and he just misses the ball, it always has to go in.”
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Criticism of Koeman
“I thought it was a very logical arrangement on paper. When you have the ball, you had great players to make the play,” Driessen continued. Would the national coach remain out of harm’s way? No, not. “Koeman completely misjudged the capabilities of these players.”
The Netherlands only finished third in the group after losing to Austria, and so a confrontation with Spain, England or the Red Devils awaits. Driessen doesn’t see that going well. “If this continues and you go out (against one of those countries, ed.) then Koeman has done no better than Frank de Boer at the previous European Championship in 2021. He then had to retire. You have to wonder whether Koeman’s position is tenable if you immediately get a turn around the ears and have to go home in the second round.”
Yet Driessen sees that the potential opponents of the Dutch team are also in trouble. “England is also a mess, Belgium is a team on the decline,” the Dutchman concluded.
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2024-06-25 19:59:31
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