Pro ShotsDenzel Dumfries in conclave with the referee
NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 06:06
Thierry Boon
follows the Dutch national team
Thierry Boon
follows the Dutch national team
When he doesn’t say anything at the press conference, he literally keeps his jaw tight. In fact, he tenses them, making his robust jawline even more imposing. Combined with his already stoic look, Denzel Dumfries exudes something ruthless.
The Dutch team can use that mentality in the knockout phase of the European Championship in Germany. Or as Memphis Depay says: “When you hear the whole stadium shouting after five minutes, every time Austria passes the damn ball, that you should hit it once.”
Because it took some getting used to last week against Austria, a Dutch team in an important match without the ever-thundering Dumfries on the right. He was always in the starting line-up at the 2020 European Championship, the 2022 World Cup and the first two matches of this European Championship. But Dumfries is a bit ailing.
Last van hamstring
“He could have played, but you have to take that into account,” national coach Ronald Koeman said before the last group match about the partly medical decision to leave Dumfries on the bench. “That’s never fun,” the main player himself responded five days later. Dumfries had a hamstring problem.
“This season is different in terms of fitness than the previous seasons, which is new for me. We just have to monitor that very carefully with the medical staff. The trainer ultimately makes the decision. But I am one hundred percent fit for Romania,” says the right back from Internazionale convincingly.
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From the bench he saw a worn-out looking Oranje lose to Austria. Captain Virgil van Dijk thought that “the real will” was missing, as was the duelling power. In March, after the practice defeat against Germany, Depay also started talking about that. “We can still learn something in that.”
Then Depay gave the example of Feyenoord player Quinten Timber, who made his debut and immediately overran his German opponent as a substitute. “We need that,” Depay indicated.
Type-Nigel de Jong
Depay: “He reminds me of the time when I played with Nigel de Jong. Then you know: there are men behind me. It creates a bit more fear in an opponent.”
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But Timber is not in Germany. Who from the current Oranje can take on the role of De Jong, the current director of the football association? “For example Denzel”, Depay answers on Sunday from behind a press conference table in Wolfsburg. “That you assert yourself during a match.”
“Yes, certainly,” responds Dumfries, who has an indomitability and inexhaustible drive. Weapons that were missed against Austria. “If you have that in you, you should definitely convey it to the team, because it gives a boost to the entire team. I think I have always done that.”
Compliments Depay to Dumfries, who needs some time to recover
The days after the defeat were mainly spent talking, the internationals told us in the past few days. Cracking hard nuts, telling each other the truth, that kind of thing. Balancing between being critical of each other and keeping the atmosphere good, on the way to the eighth finals.
“As a group, you can sense when it’s time for a joke again, that’s a natural process,” says Dumfries. Although his serious and stern look sometimes suggests otherwise, the 28-year-old defender is a humorous driving force in the team.
When all the Oranje internationals enter the training field in Wolfsburg, they are followed by a cameraman from the KNVB. Dumfries, the naughty boy that he is, can’t resist throwing his training jacket right at the lens of the camera. A laugh follows.
Everything determines
Dumfries, who made his debut in Oranje in 2018 during Koeman’s first term, is widely appreciated in the group. Because of his contribution both inside and outside the lines. Atmosphere is important, but results are decisive.
ANPDenzel Dumfries with Memphis Depay at the training of the Dutch national team in Wolfsburg
And Dumfries delivers, actually always. If not with goals or assists, then with his attitude. Setting a good example. It earns him a hymn of praise from Depay, who is sitting next to Dumfries at the press conference in Wolfsburg.
“How often he is involved in a goal as a defender, his quality of defending, his coaching in the group… The way Denzel is, I would like to see more of that. That is, in short, why he is indispensable,” Depay notes. .
“I need to recover from these compliments,” Dumfries laughs.
2024-07-01 04:06:29
#Dumfries #Nigel #Jong #type #team #boost
