The Dutch started with a win. But there are plenty of questions over this team. One thing for sure, they are going to entertain. Let's enjoy it.
A few years ago, as the Netherlands failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, an existential crisis engulfed the Dutch national team. After failing to qualify for the 2016 Euro’s, the nation who had given us total football, whose style had spread across Europe and helped to develop some of the best clubs philosophies and style, was now in it our own stylistic crisis.
What had the Dutch become? In 2010 they had reached the final. Yet at the 2012 Euro’s they came bottom of their group with 3 losses. However in 2014 they finished third under Louis van Gaal. But this was a group at the end of this generation; Robben, Sneijder, van Persie, Huntelaar, van der Vaart. These players had been part of the Dutch squad for many years. But they were at their end now. They didn't even play the most expansive football during these tournaments. They were defensive, organised and relied on counter attacks. It worked. But was it the great Dutch style of the past, which they were famed for? Were the Dutch developing players capable of playing this way anymore? Had other nations simply surpassed them in terms of developing world class talent? Could Holland compete anymore with the top nations?
Well, failing to qualify in 2016 and 2018 highlighted this tragic issue further. With the old generation moving on the new generation didn’t seem capable. The existential crisis was very real. Young players who needed time to develop and gain experience. A managerial chaos with far too much turnover and mix of styles and approaches. Chaos. Dutch football was on it’s knees.
Producing world class talent
And then came Ajax. The saviour of Dutch football. A Europa League campaign which took them to the final in 2017 saw them ultimately lose to Man Utd. However players like a 17 year old Matthijs de Ligt, Donny van de Beek and Frenkie De Jong seemed to highlight the emergence of a new generation coming through. With the leadership of a relatively young Davy Klaassen there seemed to be something in this team to be hopeful of. And yet the following year they failed to qualify for the Champions League and Europa League, which was a huge disappointment. But a year later they had won the Eredivisie and KNVB cup and had gone on a magical Champions League run, seconds away from reaching the final.
The additions of Tadic, Daley Blind and Lisandro enhanced the team further. These players helped the young players to develop further, providing experience and quality to nurture their talent. Tadic particularly was spectacular scoring 38 goals in the season, It was the coming out season for De Ligt, De Jong and the Moroccan Ziyech and Brasilian David Neres. This young side were now competing with the best in Europe once again. And while Ajax lost De Ligt and De Jong to Juve and Barca respectively, and Ziyech to Chelsea, what this talented crop of players have proven is that Dutch football is producing world class talent once again. The Dutch national team have now reaped the rewards of the work Ajax, their Academy and coach Erik ten Hag have managed to produce and nurture.
With the success Liverpool have achieved in recent years there are two key Dutch figures at the forefront of this success. Gigi Wijnaldum became a key figure in the midfield for Liverpool during their Champions League and Premier League success. And the fantastic Virgil van Dijk whose arrival at Anfield catapulted them into the best team in world football. Of course the injury to van Dijk this season curtailed Liverpool and Holland’s potential success. Because let’s face it, you can’t replace van Dijk without weakening your squad, as well as the tactical opportunities he provides, both with the ball and defending 1v1/2v2 with confidence to leave bigger spaces.
As for Wijnaldum he plays a different way for Holland, more expansive, more creative and more forward thinking. His value for Liverpool has his ability to adapt to the needs of the team and show the humility and tactical intelligence to do what is required in terms of his input for the team. He is a very versatile and attacking talent, and has not been as expansive at Liverpool, and it’s helped the team. But at Holland he has more freedom to express and get forward. And the game versus Ukraine highlighted this. He is the leader of the team - both as a captain and on the pitch.
A tale of missed chances and momentum
So let’s get to the game. Much criticism was aimed at De Boer for his decision to go with a 3-5-2, with fans demanding he embraces the Dutch 4-3-3. De Boer has had a mixed managerial career in recent years with more failures than successes. And it’s hard to know if he has the tactical acumen to make Holland a genuine challenger. But, he also realises that he is without his key man in van Dijk and might need a stronger defensive base. And and as well as that, many of the players in this squad are playing in their first tournament. This isn’t so much a Dutch side who expects to win now, but who is preparing for success in 2022 and 2024. And you know what, there is some excellent talent in this team which can see that as a genuine reality. As for the present, well it seems we are going to enjoy watching this team play, they are going to entertain for sure! In that sense, De Boer should be praised - he has come to attack and be Holland.
The first 5 minutes was a true joy to watch in terms of entertainment and open football. A cagey start? No way! Both teams were going for it, open and attacking. It was like a basketball match. Up and down and very positive. For a neutral (and yes while I did draw Holland in my Euro sweepstakes I am watching to enjoy the game) it was a whirlwind. Chances and risk taking, non-stop energy.
As the half developed it became a case of Holland dominating possession and territory, seeking to exploit the spaces wide with their wing backs while getting Wijnaldum into the box for chances. Depay – who is their most talented player and who I hope has a good tournament – had some good touches and held the ball up well, and delivered a wonderful cross with which Dumfries should have done better. The Dutch had chances to go up – Wijnaldum with some good chances on the edge of the area and Dumfries with that guilt chance header at the back post which he missed badly. The Dutch were good and deserved to be in the lead.
Ukraine played well though when they got the ball. They opened the Dutch up well yet their final ball or decision in the final third was often poor and resulted in very little threat. But they were entertaining and positive in their play at least.
An action packed 5 goal thriller of a half
The second half however was strange. Ukraine stopped doing all the positive things they were doing in the first half and looked to be more contained but in doing so allowed the Dutch more chances and opportunities. Unsurprising it was Wijnaldum who came up with the goal, making a late run and exploiting a pretty poor clearance by Ukraine’s goalkeeper Bushchan. The key player of the game was arguably Dumfries who played a key part in all the goals for Holland and was a constant threat throughout. His low cross led to the chance for Wijnaldum. The second goal was again Dumfries running from wide into the box – a potential foul was ruled off, as too an offside on Dumfries before Weghorst ultimately put it away. But it was Dumfries again causing threat and chaos against Ukraine’s defence.
The use of wing backs in this attacking sense opens up so much width and penetration while allowing the technicians in the central areas to overload the pitch. While the formation was deemed a 3-5-2 it had at times a feeling of a 3-4-2-1 with a box midfield with Depay dropping into the 10 pocket on the left side. With De Roon and De Jong often playing deeper and Wijnaldum filling in the gaps when needed. It was a well balanced midfield in terms of organisation I felt – although a midfield built around technical quality than defensive solidity. And while the counter pressing from De Jong particularly was good, De Roon may be needed to be more important at stopping counter attacks in the coming games.
The issue for Holland was that they didn’t score a third and seemingly out of nowhere it was 2-2. Ukraine who had offered very little, if at all in this half, finally got the ball to Yarmolenko who found the space he craved in order to bend a delicious curled finish into the top left corner. And Malinovsky – the sublime left footed technician of Atalanta – finally had a chance to produce a moment with a free kick and put it straight on to Yaremchuk’s head to equalise. De Boer had made the subs thinking the game was over and dead and all of a sudden the Dutch looked vulnerable and Ukraine inspired.
Momentum in football is so important and something out of nothing can change the course of a game. Yarmolenko’s goal changed the game completely. A worry for Holland at how the game got away from them so quickly. However a terrible decision by Bushchan to not clear the ball in the 85th minute led to a Nathan Ake cross which found Dumfries, who this time put away his header and won the game for the Dutch. What a performance and influence Dumfries had on this game. And commendable of Holland’s mentality to eventually win a game which they seemed to have thrown away.
The challenge perhaps between seeing out a 2-0 and shutting shop is difficult, but unlike the Dutch teams from 2010 and particularly 2014 defensive solidity is not the base of this team. Perhaps with a fit De Ligt and of course van Dijk it is different, but really it was only de Vrij who you totally rely on at the back. Although that being said, how impressive was Jurrien Timber? He only made his debut for Ajax last year and made his debut for Holland two weeks ago against Scotland. At just 19 years he looked strong and assured. Another Ajax youth product who looks to have the skills to excel at the top level. And credit to De Boer for trusting him.
Positive signs of youth
Add in a player I really in Ryan Gravenberch, another Ajax product and one who looks to be Holland’s own Jude Bellingham. At 19 years of age he could be someone who gets his opportunity in the coming games and I believe can be a revelation for Holland. And to go along with the impressive Donyell Malen, who has been a revelation for PSV this year – with his speed and finishing ability – I can see these youngsters becoming more important for Holland as the tournament progresses.
Special mention to Frenkie De Jong in this game, a player who is so wonderful to watch with the ball at his feet. So good at driving with the ball from deep, retaining possession under pressure and linking play in midfield. In the second half I felt he was the key for Holland’s dominance and attacking build up. We rave about Grealish’s ability to dribble, draw fouls and evade pressure and I think De Jong is the same. Perhaps with more game intelligence and ability to tactically control and dictate a game from deep too.
After 7 years the Dutch are back. And back with a new team of young, exciting and skilful talents. This is the attacking Dutch style of team and player which we associate with Holland. And particularly Ajax. The clubs objective to develop exceptional individual talent has bared fruit and we are witnessing this new generation and the talents they have.
Do I believe this is a team who can win the tournament? No. But do I think we will regard this team as the most entertaining football side of the tournament. Yes. I expect goals, open games, drama and a mix of quality and mistakes. And isn’t that what we’ve grown up to love and appreciate about Dutch football? They might not always win. But they will entertain. And on evidence from game 1, we are set to be quite entertained from this young group of Dutchman.
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