Xavi Simons Fails to Impress in Dutch National Team, Faces Potential Bench Role against Austria

Xavi Simons has once again failed to convince in the Dutch national team, according to Hans Kraay junior. As an attacking midfielder, he was given the opportunity against France (0-0), after he was lined up as a right winger against Poland (1-2 win).

“He has been given the opportunity to play many games. I had something like this, and more people must have had the same thing, like: show it now, otherwise it will be someone else’s turn. He did not show it, not even at 10. His favorite place is of course hanging on the left side,” says Kraay in the afterthoughts of ESPN.

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Jan Joost van Gangelen expresses his incomprehension about a shot by Simons after 35 minutes of play. Simons dribbled towards France’s penalty area, but his shot lacked power and was easily picked up by goalkeeper Mike Maignan. “Just keep walking! You have space, what do you do?” Van Gangelen exclaims. Kraay answers: “If you ask me what it is about, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he is the best free from the left. But that’s where Gakpo plays and that’s where Gakpo will continue to play, that’s a done deal.”

Does his inferior performance mean that Simons will end up on the bench against Austria on Tuesday? “At some point Koeman will say: it was nice for a while,” Kraay thinks. “He has had five or six chances in the Dutch national team, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Veerman and Schouten are in midfield, with Reijnders at 10. And then maybe Malen from the right. Frimpong didn’t like it there either. Depay, Frimpong and Xavi score real unsatisfactory marks.”

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