World Cup 2026 - Time for a Dutch Trophy

In foreign media, the selection of the Dutch national team for the upcoming World Cup is discussed. Ronald Koeman announced his list of 26 names on Wednesday afternoon, and that also loosens tongues across the border. Not everywhere they are equally enthusiastic about the team with which we will travel to the world championships this summer.

In England, The Athletic has an eye for the absence of Jeremie Frimpong. 'This will feel like another hard blow for Frimpong, after a season to forget. Not making the selection was even unthinkable when he signed with Liverpool a year ago, after three and a half successful seasons at Bayer Leverkusen. At that time, he was an important part of the Dutch national team and fully focused on impressing at this summer's World Cup. But a miserable series of injuries derailed his development, and in the end it was precisely those setbacks that cost him a place on the plane.'

The Independent, on the other hand, is surprised at how many not fully fit players Koeman calls up. Memphis Depay and Jurriën Timber are mentioned as the main examples, but Justin Kluivert and Noa Lang have not played much recently, the newspaper knows. With Crysencio Summerville and Robin Roefs, there are also two players who have never played an international match, while Marten de Roon returns after an absence of more than two years. A gamble, the newspaper writes.

The Spanish AS notices that Kees Smit is not there. 'The star player of AZ was expected to be the new face of the Dutch national team at the World Cup after an excellent season in the Eredivisie, with a medal even, but he will have to wait a little longer for his moment. Koeman opts for continuity within the core of the group and waits with the next generation until the next tournament. Smit's situation is striking. Everyone assumed that he would be called up. His breakthrough has not gone unnoticed; this summer he will leave the Netherlands, with various options from Real Madrid to the English Big Six clubs. For the time being, his World Cup debut will be postponed to 2030, the World Cup in Spain.'

In France, RMC Sport notices that the Dutch selection looks very 'English'. The sixteen players from the Premier League, compared to two from the Eredivisie, raise some French eyebrows. On the other hand, they also see that it is a group of 26 with few surprises. The absence of Frimpong is mentioned as the only surprise. The fact that Ligue 1 player Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille) and old acquaintance Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon between 2017 and 2021) are there can count on French approval.'

Il Corrière dello Sport recognizes an Italian tint in the Orange selection. They understand that Donyell Malen is there, after his staggering fourteen goals in six months at AS Roma. With Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (ex-AC Milan), Justin Kluivert (ex-Roma) and Noa Lang (ex-Napoli), five other names appeared in Koeman's selection that were familiar to the Italians.

In Belgium, Sporza saw a similarity between the Dutch national team and the national team of Belgium. The situations of Memphis Depay and Romelu Lukaku are very similar and in both cases, the national coach judged that the attackers are too important to leave at home.

 

There are 2 matches before World Cup start, friendly against Algeria on June 3rd and Uzbekistan on June 8th. I wonder if this is a good test for Timber, Kluivert and Memphis to ensure that they fit or replace them before the World Cup start. Probably starting 11 will be played. I like the schedule with Japan in the first match. A win will give confidence, a loss then the expectation will be low and not so much disappointment.

 

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In the first group match of the Dutch against Japan, the Dutch team can equal the world record of Brazil by winning or drawing it. After that, a positive result against Sweden is enough to write World Cup history. All countries with unbeaten World Cup series with more than ten matches

Country===========Unbeaten streak====Tournaments (unbeaten matches)
Brazil=============13===============1958 (6), 1962 (6), 1966 (1)
The Netherlands====12===============2014 (7), 2022 (5)
Italy==============12===============1994 (6), 1998 (5), 2002 (1)
Uruguay===========11===============1930 (4), 1950 (4), 1954 (3)
Brazil=============11===============1970 (6), 1974 (5)
Brazil=============11===============1978 (7), 1982 (4)
Germany==========11===============1990 (7), 1994 (4)
Brazil=============11===============2002 (7), 2006 (4)

 

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Gsus, if this is true we might as well stay at home.
How many times has a donkey to learn from banging it's head to change course?


Malen as a winger doesnot work.

 

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Brothers in the WC2026 for different countries!

Derrick Luckassen has been included in the World Cup selection of Ghana.
The Amsterdam-born defender made his debut this year in March against Germany.
Luckassen (30) was this season with his club Pafos (Cyp) active in the Champions League and played in the Netherlands for AZ and PSV.
He is Orange Squad Brian Brobbey"s brother.

 

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Well, it’s not like there are a ton of great options out there... Given the current squad, I think Memphis (obviously, IF fit) as ST gives more ball movement and fluidity in the attack. Memphis is decent at dropping back and creating spaces for wide players like Gakpo and Malen (and even Reijnders) to make deep runs to the penalty box. Memphis can also shift to the side and deliver very good crosses. The alternatives to Memphis, namely Brobbey and Weghorst , are both very static players who love to hug the last defender. They may be useful to hold up the ball, but would make the attack too slow, predictable and easy to defend.

Maybe there's a creative scenario with Malen as ST and Kluivert (also, if/when fit) deployed as RW with freedom to roam to the middle (similar to how Xavi Simons was utilized). Or maybe Summerville may surprise us (realistically, he has zero cap and plays LW for his club… I am curious to see how he's doing but not expecting much).

 

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Vermoedelijke opstelling Oranje
Probable line up:
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, Reijnders, De Jong; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo


Malen again on a spot where he fails in the Orange Squad and as striker a guy who can't score.

 

Malen starting as ST, with Summerville in the RW. Hmmm, let’s see if this works out

 

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Players rating by Voetbal international

 

Only saw the second half.
Hato proving he doesnot belong in the team, nor the selection.
I'm wondering if that dude has any tactical understanding at all. He often was up the pitch (like in his Ajax days), when the opponent's attack was on his wing.
And on top of that he again shows he hasnot got the skills to stop a technical gifted opponent.
One on one with a top player he's the loser.

 

Meanwhile… Japan has won six in a row leading to the World Cup, including wins against Brazil and England. In those six matches they have conceded only two goals

Guess who the underdog is in the first match of the WC - maybe that lifts some pressure off from the Dutch NT

 

Hato played a decent amount of times, and in fact, many Chelsea’s fans viewed him as their best player in the second half of the season. But of course, Chelsea as a team was a dumpster fire during that period so yeah that’s rather unfortunate… The standby LB Maatsen played sporadically throughout the season, he should not have picked, either. Maybe Eredivisie’s best LB, Mats Rots, should have been given a chance

 

Hato just stupid defending allowing Hadj Moussa to unload from his only left leg.
Just mindless play.
Koeman with his love affair with Memphis is pathetic.

 

How appropriate to have a Feyenoord man score the winner in that stadium! Was poppa Zinedine there in the stands to watch? Looks like young Luca had a hellava match (6 saves)...

Hup Holland!

 

The sooner Koeman is gone, the better for the Dutch NT.

For me it starts with his selections. Once you build a squad around “reliability” and comfort rather than upside, intensity and form, the rest becomes a domino effect.

So how is that reliability factor working out? Losing at home to Algeria in your send-off game before a World Cup. Fantastic.

And this is the problem with Koeman in general. His record has some good moments, sure, but there is no sustained evidence of elite coaching quality. He has always felt like a functional, conservative manager who can have the occasional good run when circumstances line up, but not someone who consistently elevates a team.

Consistency is the sign of real quality. Koeman does not give me that. He never has.

 

Have to say, having seen the highlights, that Malen had some spectacular misses!

 

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Well, Koeman names the same thing I did:
Ronald Koeman saw that his players were getting out of position in the second half and mentioned Hato as an example. The defender of Chelsea came in for Micky van de Ven at the start of the second half. 'Jorrel Hato went forward, while our left back had to play flatter,' said the national coach at the press conference. 'You also have to use your head.'

Koeman, I for some time now called Hato tactically and defensively inept, but you keep the hyped one in the selection.


Van Hooijdonk was not surprised by the action of Hadj Moussa, who shot Algeria to victory in De Kuip. 'Of course, we have seen this before in the Netherlands. Only Jorrel Hato, who lives in London, probably doesn't watch much Dutch football. One body movement and Hato almost snaps, while you know that Hadj Moussa goes to his left leg,' said Van Hooijdonk at the NOS.

 

Foreign media see clear problem at Oranje: 'The substitution of Weghorst underlines that'

Ronald Koeman will board the plane to New York today with quite a few worries.
That is the conclusion of foreign media after the defeat of the Dutch in the away match towards the World Cup against Algeria in the Kuip: 0-1.
'A nasty surprise and a major setback for the Dutch national team.'
The winning goal came in the final minutes from the foot of Anis Hadj Moussa, Feyenoord's star player during the last Eredivisie season. "He scored a brilliant goal in a stadium that is used to its magic every weekend," writes the Spanish Marca.

And that while the Dutch left a handful of opportunities unused, especially in the first half.
'An unprecedented match in the Rotterdam rain', is how L'Équipe sums it up.
'Algeria won, despite being outclassed at times. A beautiful goal by Hadj Moussa was enough.' Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, is also praised. 'He delivered a brilliant performance.' The French sports newspaper thinks that the match saddles Koeman with enough homework. 'Both World Cup players had the chance to measure themselves against real opposition, and the match will undoubtedly have been a valuable learning experience for both coaches.'

The Athletic knows where Koeman's concerns will mainly be.
'The defeat against Algeria, sealed by a beautiful late goal by Hadj Moussa, was an inopportune mistake. The weak spot of the Netherlands has been clearly visible for some time: it lacks real punch in front', writes the American medium. 'In this generation, the Dutch simply do not have an attacking superstar. The late substitution of Wout Weghorst, a slow striker who is only getting slower, underlined exactly what the Netherlands is missing.'

Funeral mood
Het Laatste Nieuws therefore expects the Dutch to get on the plane today with 'a hangover'. 'A brilliant performance in the sending away match against Algeria in the Kuip - well, given the numerous Algerians who turned up, more of a whistle match - could have provided a little more optimism. But it turned out differently. With a great goal in minute 86, Moussa completely immersed the legion in a funeral mood. Koeman sat on the bench looking blank.

'Was it all bad?', the Belgian newspaper wonders.
'No, not that either. It is clear that the Netherlands does have weapons. The speed of Malen and Summerville. Gakpo's action. At the back, Van Dijk remains a certainty. But finishing chances turned out to be oh so difficult. The Netherlands and Koeman should pray that Depay grows to his best form in the coming weeks.'

The German Kicker speaks of a major setback for the Orange.
'In rainy Rotterdam, the Netherlands showed considerably more attacking threat than the visitors. They moved quickly and were goal-oriented, with AS Roma's Malen standing out in particular. However, luck was not on the side of the former Dortmund player, as he threw away numerous big chances'

 

Van Dijk: "for me it always comes down to the fact that it's not about having great players, it's about who has the best team. We, as a team and the staff, have to find the best formula to be successful."

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments...rticles/virgil-van-dijk-interview-netherlands