Before the top game in the Nations League, the Netherlands’ storm problem is getting worse. Right in the middle: a former FC Bayern youth player.
The Netherlands’ starting position before the Nations League duel with Germany on Monday (8.45 p.m., live ticker and audio report) has worsened. On the one hand, Oranje showed a poor performance in the 1-1 (0-1) draw in Budapest on Friday and is now two points behind the DFB team (2-1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina) in second place.
On the other hand, the captain is out: Virgil van Dijk will be missing in Munich because he received a yellow-red card in Hungary in the 79th minute.
Disappointing evening in Budapest
First van Dijk complained, then he came too late in a duel – the unnecessary sending off was the low point of a disappointing evening in Budapest. “The fact that Virgil received the second card doesn’t help. He just had to keep running, but he knows that himself,” said national coach Ronald Koeman.
Only a standard situation in the 83rd minute saved the Dutch from at least a draw. Denzel Dumfries headed in Cody Gakpo’s free-kick cross to ensure the Hungarians’ lead remained three points.
It’s about winning the group
This could become important in the remaining three preliminary round games, also for Germany, because the third-placed team has to play in the relegation to avoid relegation from the highest national league. The DFB team now has five points more than Hungary and a significantly better goal difference.
Places one and two mean entry into the newly introduced quarter-finals, where the home and away games are played for the starting places in the Final Four tournament. Whoever wins the group will meet the runner-up from one of the other three groups.
Third duel in 2024
This small advantage is what’s at stake on Monday in Munich – and of course also about prestige, as always when arch-rivals Germany and the Netherlands face each other. It is already the third duel this year: Germany won the test match at the end of March 2-1, the first leg in the Nations League in mid-September ended 2-2.
The opportunity to win at the third attempt seems good for the Netherlands. Finally, national coach Julian Nagelsmann has a long list of failures to complain about, including top performers such as Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug.
Weghorst not nominated
But the DFB team can apparently compensate for the many failures better than the Netherlands can compensate for their few. Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten are missing from PSV Eindhoven. Bond coach Koeman has voluntarily given up on former Bundesliga professional Wout Weghorst, who is now under contract with Ajax Amsterdam.
As a result, the team is missing its most effective goalscorer, and the classic center forward has proven particularly effective as a joker. The central attack position is currently the largest construction site. Memphis Depay, who was still in attack at the European Championships, took himself out of the game when he moved to Brazil to SC Corinthians; the 30-year-old has not been called up since then.
Jens Jörg Rieck, Sportschau, October 12, 2024 9:49 a.m
Zirkzee against Hungary, Brobbey against Germany?
Instead, Koeman relies on the young Brian Brobbey (22, Ajax Amsterdam) and Joshua Zirkzee (23, Manchester United). Zirkzee got his second chance from the start against Hungary. The former FC Bayern youth player didn’t make a breakthrough in the Bundesliga, but then prevailed at FC Bologna.
Manchester United struck for the new season and Zirkzee scored in the first Premier League game, but has experienced a goal drought since then. “He’s in a difficult situation there,” Koeman said. Most recently against Aston Villa (0-0) he was only allowed to play as a joker for 26 minutes.
In Budapest, Zirkzee cleverly claimed the ball a few times, but remained harmless with only one shot on goal and one assist on goal. Even before the game, Koeman had made it clear that he would continue to rotate in attack. “Perhaps I was too hasty to say that I wanted a clear number one in attack. I think the level of both players is very similar, both can be useful in the upcoming games.” That’s why he doesn’t want to decide on one of the two yet.
Only paint jokers
It is quite possible that Brobbey will be allowed to start against Germany – as he did in the first leg. At that time he prepared the 2-2 well by beating Nico Schlotterbeck on the goal line and feeding the goalscorer Denzel Dumfries. The Ajax homegrown player has not yet managed to score a goal in his four international matches so far.
Koeman brought on another attacker late against Hungary, who has scored four goals in his last nine national team appearances: Dortmund’s Donyell Malen. It is quite possible that he will also get more playing time in Munich.
