AFPXavi Simons
NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 00:00
Jesse Wieten
editor Dutch national team
Jesse Wieten
editor Dutch national team
With zero assists and zero goals for the Dutch national team, Xavi Simons started preparing for the European Championship. After thirteen international matches, he was still waiting for his breakthrough in Oranje. That breakthrough has come, on the highest podium.
“I thought that was absolutely the best today,” said national coach Ronald Koeman after reaching the quarter-finals. “Fantastic. Also in choosing positions. The drive.How aggressively he wins that duel.”
The national coach was referring to the introduction to the 3-0 against Romania. Simons won the duel against Alexandru Cicaldau on his own half and immediately served Donyell Malen with a tackle, who scored from the counter. Earlier, he had already provided the first goal for Cody Gakpo.
Wrestling in Orange
It is a contrast to the image of until recently. Despite his impressive figures at club level, first with PSV (22 goals, 12 assists) and then with RB Leipzig (10 goals, 15 assists), Simons did not really shine at Oranje. It was more suffering than leading. He often overran himself in his zeal.
Simons’ numbers in Oranje are improving nicely. With a total of three assists, he is currently the assist king of this EC. One more and he will join an illustrious list of the best Dutch assisters ever at an EC: Arjen Robben (5), Dennis Bergkamp (4) and Wesley Sneijder (4).
AFPXavi Simons put Donyell Malen
“He has to start realizing where he can’t lose the ball,” Koeman said after the match against Scotland (4-0) in March. “In your own half you always have to think about keeping possession, that can’t happen in those places. I can expect him to develop in that.”
The national coach put energy and time into it: “I talk to him about the fact that he fights for a good match and a goal at Oranje,” Koeman also said. “You talk to him about that because he remains a good player. You talk about the pressure he puts on himself and his position here.”
There was support for Simons from Germany and some advice for Koeman from RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose: “I can only advise the Netherlands to try to put Xavi in a role where he can show his obvious qualities.”
To trust
At the start of the European Championship preparations, Koeman expressed his confidence in Simons. “I see a driven Xavi, who has a lot of qualities and works very hard,” said Koeman. “He is a great talent, he will get there. We have to give him time for that.”
Meanwhile, Simons showed himself to be a gentleman and a team player. When asked about the competition with Jeremie Frimpong on the right, he replied: “What do you mean, competitor? He’s just a teammate. He’s my friend. We shouldn’t create competition.”
Watch the summary of Netherlands – Romania and the interview with Ronald Koeman below:
In the first practice match against Iceland (4-0) that first international goal finally came. There were still some things to be said about his game. That may also have had to do with his position, on the right up front, the place where he also started the European Championship against Poland (2-1).
In the second EC match against France (0-0), Simons was given the chance as an attacking midfielder and actually scored a goal, which was unfortunately disallowed. In the same position, Simons had an energetic substitution against Austria and was the provider for Gakpo’s goal.
Struggle seems over
The freer role in Oranje suits Simons like a glove. He is increasingly the player he has been at club level for a long time. The struggle in Oranje seems to be over. On Tuesday in Munich, Simons excelled by finding space, especially on the left, as a 10.
“Maybe he plays a bit more freely at 10,” Koeman said. “We’ve figured that out by now.”
AFPXavi Simons passes forward, behind his standing leg
Of course, not everything is going well yet. Simons missed a huge chance before half-time. But with Jerdy Schouten and Tijjani Reijnders as controllers and Simons as ‘left’ 10, Koeman has found his midfield. “The puzzle has been completed”, said the national coach.
Against Romania, Simons played his eighteenth and perhaps best international match. In the build-up to the first goal, Schouten found him in that left zone with a tight pass. Simons turned open, played through to Gakpo, who put the Dutch ahead.
Simons’ breakthrough in Oranje is a victory for himself, but also for Koeman. The national coach had long anticipated that Simons would repay him, did not drop the youngster, kept faith and that faith was rewarded.
2024-07-02 22:00:36
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