If it were up to me I’d go: GK: Krul, Stek, Cilessen RB: Dumfries, Karsdorp CB: De Vrij, De Ligt, Struijk, Botman LB: Wijndal, Blind CM: FdJ, Gravenberch, Koopmeiners AM: Klaassen, Stengs. RM: Berghuis, Lang ST/CF: Depay, Malen, Weghorst LM: Danjuma, Gakpo I realize this won’t be the selection cause FdB is a nonce. Can’t be arsed to put up what he’s likely to pick cause it’s just infuriating.
I pretty much agree with your selection except one omission from your list Gini Wijnaldum. I include Wijnaldum who is a clear starter and Captain. No Koopmeiners for me. I don’t think Virgil or Blind will be fit for whatever it’s worth. I like Struijk, Botman, and Karsdorp to be included. Karsdorp should start. Don’t think Koopmeiners, Lang, Danjuma, or Gakpo make it. Frank to add Babel, Luuk, Tete, and ? All I can say is how?, or why? Would he dare consider Robben?
It is difficult to say @ what level Robben will be or if he is capable of staying injury free but he is or atleast was in a class of his among a mediocre batch (NOW). Best player in the post Cryuff era without any doubt. And he always came back strong returning from injury & played incredibly well through injuries. He played with literally a hole in his knew & came on int he 75th minute against Cameroon (when it was 1-1) & hit the inside of the bar which Huntelaar converted. Main guy who helped win against Brazil or Uruguay. By far the best player while playing with a hole in his knee (Kudos to Sneijder as well). Unlike others Arjen's footballing instinct is incredible & I predict he will become a coach. His long throws, runs, vision & he is also an incredible scorer from distance. You can put him in the 80th minute & he can score a long ranger (if he has it). Ibra & many other declined with age & in pace but never lost their scoring/shooting ability completely. He will also be great in the dressing room. Coming to the team. It should be a 2 Striker formation. The wingers are a joke. Babel is crap. Weghorst as lead ST & Depay behind him. It is a shame that we have come from Van Basten/Kluivert/Nistelroy/Van Persie/Huntelaar to him. Even Roy Makaay was better but atleast he can score & plays @ a decent level. And Depay - He never has anywhere near the technical skill, 1st touch, vision or speed as say a Robben but can play with the ball, score & gives his heart out. The subs are all a joke attacking wise. De Vrij-De Ligt-Van Dijk (If he can make it) are all great as is De Jong. And then you have a bunch of mediocrity. Wijnaldum stightly better than mediocre (Decent). No elite attacking players (who knows if Nouri would have been one under different circumstances. Feels like an Italy type team. Good defenders & one potentially DLP (ala Pirlo but not @ that level yet), a good runner (Wijnaldum) & few decent strikers ! No 10s or Elite Wingers ! Even the STs don't have the technical ability of a Kluivert !
Cillesen can't save a penalty to save his life & will need to subbed off if it gets to that ! Depay is the natural choice possibly followed by Wijnaldum. Both are likely starters !
60% of AD readers want to see a fit Robben back in Oranje https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...tional-die-een-gamechanger-kan-zijn~a8c7e2d5/
Gullit, van Basten, Koeman, van Nistelrooy, Sneijder, and Bergkamp to cite just a few argue against this statement.
I hope we steer clear of Robben. People are emotional beings and love to romanticize the past. Who cares what Robben did in the past in regards to selection criteria for the EC. He’s old, over the hill, extremely injury prone, and only very recently had a good game for Groningen. Objectivity is far sought with the ones arguing for his selection. This whole “he’s a prominent/positive figure in the locker room” argument as a selection criteria with 0 regards for actual level and ability on the pitch at the moment is getting to new levels of idiocy. It’s not only FdB, mind you. Perez, the Danish analyst actually said that he doesn’t follow the Turkish league so he only has Babel’s most recent game where he scored to go on. Based on that Babel should be selected and of course his presence in the locker room. Talk about lazy journalism and lack of objectivity. Basic research will show you that he’s been on the bench mostly and that surely has a reason; he’s not even been good enough for Galatasaray. smh. I’m so over this.
I have one question. How effective a midfield trio of klaassen,Wijnaldum and frenkie can be. Especially in knock out stages.
I would take Donny over Klassen any day, even if he is not playing. Klassen can be a sub for me, nothing else.
But given the group you guys have with Ukraine, Austria and North Macedonia you should easily win this group
Up to this point imo Klaassen has been a case of de Vrij. Better for club than for country. Klaassen plays well in a specific set-up. It’s impossible to exclude him from the EC based on performance though. He was pivotal in Ajax title-run. As far as Wijnaldum goes, as I’ve said before, I’m not a big fan of his. Especially this season. At Liverpool it seems they have no problems letting him go. That has a reason. If it’s all the same as far as current form/level goes then we might as well put Stengs at AM with Frenkie and Gravenberch at CM. I’ve always felt Stengs had more potential as an AM than on the flanks. It really is a darn shame how Ihattaren has progressed this season. The best attacking mid talent on Dutch fields. This summer will be crucial for his future. Sink or swim. In all likeliness though it’ll probably be Klaassen Wijnaldum Frenkie. Let’s see how far we get with that midfield.
If anything, these last intl games have proven that there are no “easy” games for us these days anymore. Add to that a coach like FdB and nothing will surprise me anymore this EC. I just hope for a miracle of some sort.
Yeah but in your group I would say you have the most strongest team in that group in terms of overall talent
Arguably this trio is the most balanced, and give the best combination of skillset, playability, and experience. I can live with this. Klaassen and Gini are somewhat interchangeable, and they could create an interesting dynamic. Both are runners and opportunistic poachers, who can pop in front of goal. Scorers are badly needed!! As Memphis would be double or triple-teamed, and Luuk De Jong (FdB's first choice as striker?!?) would be quite useless. I'd be disappointed to see De Roon as he would limit the attacking possibilities. I would not mind Gravenberch getting some minutes as subs (or even starting on the third/later game). He is the wild card, and I have a feeling he will surprise a lot people this Summer with his gusto and athleticism. Donny v.d. Beek... I think, he is out of rhythm, and will be too rusty. Koopmeiners would be the only other worthy of consideration, although I think he's more suited as a back up to Frenkie.
I like this squad. I think the limit is 26 now so I will add Wijnaldum, De Roon (you need one better defensive/shut down mid). Is Blind fit? I'm not sure if Ake can go in place of Blind, or takes the last spot or I should reserve for VVD (not sure how he is recovering). We need all the wingers we can have with Stengs, Lang, Berghuis, Danjuma, Gakpo and Depay. I will not take Van Aanhotl, Veltman, Babel, LDJ, Van de Beek or anyone else (Robben is not fit).
To Cillesen's credit, he did save Messi's penalty last week...so maybe his penalties are improving...
vDijk confirmed to be out of Euro. That makes me sad https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...s-groot-maar-dit-is-de-juiste-keuze~a69a4483/
There was a post on a economics blog about Maradona's proficiency at PKs. I looked up the statistics for the two current thought to be greatest, Messi and Ronaldo (79 and 84%). However, nobody that I am aware of compares to Ronald Koeman whose conversion rate was 92%!