Lars Capiau12 Oct 2024, 00:06
Last updated: Oct 12, 2024, 12:06 AM
Jan Joost van Gangelen does not really see a number 9 in Joshua Zirkzee, the presenter says during the review of Hungary – Oranje at ESPN. Hans Kraay junior does not completely agree with the words of his colleague.
Kraay junior, if he had been in the shoes of the national coach, would have made a substitution at half time. “I would like it if Zirkzee gets a little support in the point and that you add (Brian, ed.) Brobbey and he can roam around it a bit.”
“Zirkzee is not targetman and you shouldn’t expect that from him,” Kraay junior makes an impassioned plea for the striker. “He is a very graceful number 9 who can play excellent football with a little space.” Van Gangelen does not agree with his colleague’s praise.
The presenter points to the shirt number that the Manchester United striker wears with the Dutch national team. “He has jersey number 10 on his back and that always says enough to me, because it might be more than that,” Van Gangelen refers to the position of the attacking midfielder.
“He’s not real targetmanbut he is not 10 either,” Kraay junior argues. “He is a nice 9.5, but tonight he was not.” Van Gangelen draws a comparison with other Dutch strikers: Brobbey and Wout Weghorst.
“When they come in there is a kind of eagerness, with some number 9s you see that determination. With Zirkzee you always think: that’s a nice player for an indoor football team or beach football, but I don’t know…”
“You cannot expect Zirkzee to stand on the field with steam coming out of his ears and to fight head-to-head duels,” Kraay junior still argues in defense of the striker. “He can function excellently against opponents with more space at the back.”
