The Dutch exit with a whimper in the end. Disappointment in a team which offered so much. But in the end blew it when it mattered.
This exit was a combination of players mentality and coaching failings. As we will analyse and discuss, Holland let themselves down under adversity and showed a lack of character when it mattered most.
Malen or Weghorst - speed or size?
De Boer went for Malen up front instead of Weghorst – a decision which felt right based on the group games. In the game against North Macedonia Malen did provide excellent moments and link up. However in the 1st half Holland struggled to penetrate and work the intricate moments between lines to create chances.
While I was in support of Malen playing, perhaps this was a game for Weghorst to play and start – to occupy the centre halves, to provide a target man option. Which was needed based on how the Czech’s set up. The fact it took till the 73 mins to bring on Weghorst is something we will touch on later.
As well as this it felt that Memphis roams more with Malen, which is great if the football is flowing and fluid but there were times in the first half particularly where the space Memphis has been picking up these past few games was open and not filled. And this meant Blind or De Jong didn't have that pass option available, which had proved to be their post source of penetration in recent games. So perhaps with Malen, Memphis isn't as strict on his positioning and this didn't help Holland's build up early on.
A defensive strategy nullified Holland
The Czech’s should be praised for their approach to this game; they setup in a high press when Holland had possession and when they sought to play out. This meant Stekelenburg had few options to play out and ended up playing long into wide areas – which often resulted in a loss of possession or a struggle to get secure possession. Holland didn't offer much rotation and seemed afraid to drop really deep to get possession - so long balls were all they could choose to make.
It was a smart approach to nullfy the Dutch’s rhythm and allow Daley Blind the time and space he excels in. Although Blind did have some good passes in the half, he didn’t get as many chances as in previous games. The Czech’s had done their homework and denied Blind and De Jong the ball from deep.
They seemed happy for Holland to have possession on the half way line as they could get into a strong defensive block and deny space. They showed excellent tactical intelligence and cohesion to know when to drop off and close the spaces. They denied space between lines really and Holland who have excelled in the first three games with these passes, struggled much more to find the space in this game when attacking the final third.
The Dutch really struggled to penetrate the Czech defence and were either caught offside with poor timing of run and pass, a failure to take advantage of good counter attacks (Malen), or due to the positioning of the wing backs.
A lack of width - with wing backs?
I think the wing backs positioning was the biggest issue for Holland’s build up. Simply put, they didn’t stay wide enough. Dumfries has been immense up to now in his right wing back role – plays wide, stretches the game, exploits the space the opposition give him. But whether out of choice or direction he ventured inside too often. He made one good run across to penetrate behind which did allow Holland behind for a moment, but Dumfries is best 1v1 wide – attacking the full back and getting into the area. He did this once in the first half which almost created a goal. But he didn’t stay wide enough often enough. Credit to the Czech’s for their defensive organisation but Holland did not utilise a weapon which has been key to their success in the group stage.
As well as this Holland looked fatigued. None other than Gini Wijnaldum. Hindsight is a great thing, but perhaps it was unwise to play Wijnaldum in the third group game. They had already qualified. Was it needed for him to play or rest for this game? He looked exhausted. Struggled to win his battles, struggled to get on the ball effectively and it denied Holland the chance to use his third man runs to penetrate but also defensively was poor. The example of the 2nd Czech goal was evidence of this; a 50/50 which he should win, he wasn’t close, Dumfries expects Wijnaldum to win the ball, leaving a huge space Tomas Holes to win the ball, attack the area and cut back for Schick to slot away.
The minute which changed it all
But the key moment of this game came in the 52nd minute. It all changed in this moment.
Holland build out from Blind, who plays into Memphis, a quick flick into Malen set him away, he ghosted past the Czech defence, 1v1 and he tried to go past Vaclik, who collected the ball at his feet. A huge chance. The first real big chance of the game; Malen’s speed, Memphis dropping deeper to create the space and get on the ball, it was the perfect move which Holland have used this tournament. Blind finds a pass between/into the forwards, quick combination and speed to penetrate. Malen’s moment – and he fluffed it. Costly? Yes. Only because of what happened seconds later.
He scores and the Dutch are energised and probably go on to win. Yet, seconds later a long ball up front from the Czech’s is terribly dealt with by De Ligt, he just needs to head it out when it first bounces, he gets caught all over the place, falls over and deliberately handles the ball to stop a 1-on-1. VAR decides it’s a red, which is probably fair. And in a minute from being potentially 1-0 up, you are now down to 10 men, which arguably your most important defender off the pitch (remember two clean sheets from Holland when De Ligt played).
So what now? What would I have done? Well, I think you could move to a 4-3-2 – drop off and look to counter – look to feed a Memphis/Malen front two for at least 10 mins to see if that works. A midfield three of De Jong, De Roon and Wijnaldum is pretty solid and you just need to look to exploit the width one side. However, De Boer made a strange choice, and one which ultimately cost them.
He looked to keep the same system they were playing, but take Malen off and leave Memphis to play as a type of false forward. Effectively making it a 3-4-1-1. He brought on Promes and put his left wing back and put van Aanholt at left centre back. Considering he switched to a 4-3-3 in the game before pointed to a sense of trust in being tactically flexible. But this move felt like a rigid obsession with a 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 without using the right parts to make it work properly. Was Promes the right choice? No. Either don’t make a sub and just change the formation. Or bring on someone who can offer something different. In that sense perhaps this was the time to bring on Weghorst and use a more direct game. Ultimately when this change did happen, it was on 73 mins and Holland had already seemingly given up the game. But to take off Malen, who after this chance minutes before proved that in terms of speed he could exploit this Czech defence, felt like taking off your most important attacking weapon. It was almost like a punishment for the miss. And that just isn’t smart coaching.
A whimper of a half
And so the half played out with the Dutch having little solutions to create any chances. And the Czech’s now growing into the game, showing more confidence and belief. They had the better chances and eventually scored from a set piece. The Dutch became even less confident 1-0 down, and looked defeated with 30 mins still to play. It was shameful and disappointing. A team which had promised so much and entertained so well, just stopped playing. They became petulant, tactically all over the place, left huge gaps and eventually were exploited due to this apathy and poor decision making of positioning.
Schick’s goal was a calamity for Holland but that’s how the half had played out. A terrible tactical decision by De Boer meant that with 10 men Holland had little hope of winning this game. The players should take the blame too of course, they spent more time moaning at the ref and looking annoyed (De Jong) than taking the game on and trying to make things happen.
A second half with no shots at the Czech goal is really shocking. In contrast the Czech’s had 8 shots that half. Yes the red card changed the game, the 1v1 chance was huge but also the decisions and reactions after were ultimately the costly moments.
And in a week of football where we have seen teams come back from 3-1 and bring the energy and desire to not quit, to show resilience, to show some pride. Well, Holland didn’t offer any of that. A hard done by, feel sorry for themselves group of players were an embarrassment for 40 mins in that second half. A team that offered so much, go out with a whimper. Petulant and lacking in ideas. This is more like the Dutch we have become used to. The potential and promise, and the ultimate disappointment at the end.
This is a good and promising group of players. De Boer has already gone. The next manager needs to embrace a system and style which continunes to bring the best out of its key players. But needs above all to improve the mentality and character of this group. To create a strong and winning mindset. That is what cost Holland in this game in the end.
The Whitehouse Address @TheWAddress
Related articles
Holland’s Attacking Fluidity Entertains and Makes Them Contenders
The Netherlands - Once Again The Great Entertainers
No comments:
Post a Comment