“Then we play at a high pace, with players who get between the lines and dangerous attacks over the flanks. We didn’t just put Spain on fire twice this spring. But sometimes we fall back too far. And if that happens at the World Cup, you can just be out. That has to be out.”
Valentijn Driessen: ‘National coach Ronald Koeman can still hit his Dutch internationals’
The Netherlands kept the pace high against the defensive-minded Finns. Memphis Depay prepared the first goals from Donyell Malen and Virgil van Dijk and signed for 3-0. The Dutch team’s all-time top scorer has now scored 54 goals for his national team. With 35 assists, he is also the player who has prepared the most goals for the Dutch team.
“Those are fantastic figures,” said Koeman. “He is the striker that I would first write down on a piece of paper. But he also has to stay fit. That is why I replaced him.”
Koeman gave Justin Kluivert a chance as an attacking midfielder, while Ryan Gravenberch played alongside De Jong before half-time and Tijjani Reijnders in the second half. “With Kluivert I wanted to play more attacking,” said Koeman. “I wasn’t planning on replacing Gravenberch at half time, but he was no longer completely fit. Kluivert played well together with Depay, but moved too much to the left before half time. We already have a fantastic player there in Gakpo.”
Not Jeremie Frimpong, but Donyell Malen was the right winger of the Dutch team against the Finns. “That also had to do with the opponent,” said Koeman. “But Donyell Malen did well, just like Jurriën Timber at the back. I am very satisfied with Jurriën.” Due to the impressive goal difference, the Dutch team will most likely need a win over Poland or Lithuania next month to secure a ticket for the World Cup. “Then we have achieved our first goal,” said Koeman. “But I’m not going to run the polonaise. I won’t do that if I think we should be first in the group.”
Virgil van Dijk scored proud of the Dutch team: ‘We know what is at stake’
Virgil van Dijk was a satisfied man after the Netherlands-Finland (4-0). The Dutch captain won again in the World Cup qualification, scored and recently celebrated his anniversary: ten years with the Dutch national team. “I am proud of that journey.”
However, Van Dijk is especially satisfied with the Dutch team this Sunday evening. “It was just a very good match. Good from start to finish. Good goals too. Beautiful evening,” he told NOS.
Virgil van Dijk has scored. © ANP/HH
To continue: “You are also more steady on the ball. The pitch was also a lot better than against Malta, which also helps. You want to start well and we do that. We know what’s at stake. Now we have to finish it in the next period and then the first goal has been achieved.”
Van Dijk does not want to dwell too long on his Orange anniversary. “I don’t think now is the time to talk about myself. I prefer to leave that to others. Now I especially want to achieve something great with this group.”
Strong Dutch team takes a big step towards the World Cup with a big win over Finland
Kluivert dreams of the final tournament after the entire match against Finland
Justin Kluivert hopes to finally experience his first final tournament as a player for the Dutch national team next summer. “I have now played ninety minutes. A goal may not have happened yet, but it was a wonderful evening for me,” said the Bournemouth striker after the 4-0 victory over Finland in the World Cup qualifying in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Kluivert was preferred to Tijjani Reijnders, who was a starter against Malta on Thursday. “Whether I am the ‘missing link’ in midfield? You have to ask the national coach,” said Kluivert. “I thought we played very well at times. It is difficult to maintain that for an entire match. We won 4-0 twice this week. We can be proud of that.”
Kluivert made his debut for the Dutch team in 2018. He was not in the selection for the 2021 and 2024 European Championships and the 2022 World Cup. “I hope to be part of that next year. We have a team with all world players. It is an honor to be part of that.”
Malen does not see himself as a perfect substitute for the Dutch team
Donyell Malen gave the Dutch team the lead against Finland with a placed shot. He celebrated his second goal as a starter for the national team. He made the other ten as a substitute.
It has not escaped Malen’s notice that many people see him as the perfect substitute for the Dutch team. “That has been said too often,” he said in the catacombs of the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “But I just want to play. I think I scored a nice goal, after a quick ‘one-two’ with Memphis. Maybe we were still too sloppy at times. Especially in the second half, I think.”
Malen was preferred to Jeremie Frimpong, the Liverpool attacker who sometimes got in the way of right back Denzel Dumfries in Malta on Thursday. “It went very well at times,” he said about his collaboration with Dumfries, with whom he also played at PSV. “Sometimes I go on the inside and he goes over it on the outside. Sometimes the other way around. We have a good connection. We know each other’s qualities, because we have been playing football together for a long time.”