Persco
The Dutch national team will also play a second, unofficial practice match against Uzbekistan on Monday. The match will be slightly shorter: twice 35 minutes. National coach Ronald Koeman also said at a press moment in New York that he wants to change as little as possible. He also seemed to give up two starters.
The Dutch team lost to Algeria (0-1) in the Kuip on Wednesday. A day later, the selection and staff flew to the United States, where the first World Cup match is scheduled for June 14, against Japan. “After a night’s sleep you also see the good things,” Koeman said about the match against Algeria.
“We discussed and trained on the things we were not satisfied with. Now it’s time to ensure that everyone gets even fitter for the Japan match.”
The Netherlands will play two matches against Uzbekistan. The second, unofficial one, is two times 35 minutes. “We have 26 players. The first is with largely the basic team. And it’s good for a number of guys who aren’t 100 percent, they can possibly play that second game. Everyone then gets minutes. That’s what you want.”
Koeman expects Uzbekistan to resemble Japan in terms of playing style. “We assume that Uzbekistan will play like Japan. “It’s good training. In principle, I think Japan is stronger. But you do encounter situations that you will also encounter against Japan. That’s a good test for us, how we play that.”
Our reporter Sjoerd Mossou asked whether Koeman wanted to see Crysencio Summerville on the right flank against Uzbekistan in combination with Denzel Dumfries. “If you say it is logical, then that is correct,” said Koeman. The look of the national coach seemed to say enough: Summerville and Dumfries will play in the official match against Uzbekistan.
Koeman wants to change as little as possible. “That everyone will really play fully. We have to wait and see whether that works, with aches and injuries.”
liveblog
End of live blog
The press conference is over! Thanks for following. The Dutch national team will play the official friendly against Uzbekistan tomorrow at 8:45 PM (Dutch time). See you then!
In tomorrow’s official practice match, Koeman wants to make as few changes as possible. “That everyone will really play to the fullest. We have to wait and see whether that works, with aches and injuries.”
Our reporter Sjoerd Mossou asks whether Koeman wants to see the Summerville-Dumfries combination on the right flank tomorrow. “If you say that it is logical, then that is correct,” said Koeman. Koeman’s look seemed to say enough: Summerville and Dumfries will play against Uzbekistan tomorrow.
The selection was yesterday in Times Square. “It was a lot of fun. Also chaotic, because everyone had to stay together. Of course we couldn’t lose any boys there,” says Van de Ven with a smile. “Afterwards we all had dinner somewhere.”
Koeman is not very pleased with the hotel where the Dutch team is based in New York. “It could be better, let me put it this way.”
“We assume that Uzbekistan will play like Japan,” says Koeman. “It is good training. In principle, I think Japan is stronger. But you do encounter situations that you will also encounter against Japan. That is a good test for us, how we play that.”
Koeman about Wednesday’s disappointment (0-1 defeat in De Kuip against Algeria). “After a night’s sleep you also see the good things. We discussed and trained on the things we were not satisfied with. Now it’s time to ensure that everyone gets even fitter for the Japan match.”
The Netherlands will play two matches against Uzbekistan. The second, unofficial one, is two times 35 minutes. “We have 26 players. The first is with largely the basic team. And it’s good for a number of guys who aren’t 100 percent, they can possibly play that second game. Everyone then gets minutes. That’s what you want.”
National coach Koeman and Van de Ven are ready. The press conference is starting!
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Welcome
Good evening! From 9 p.m. (Dutch time), Ronald Koeman looks ahead to tomorrow’s friendly international match against Uzbekistan. Stay informed here!
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Maarten Wijffels
Maarten Wijffels is the football expert on this site and explains top football with analyses, interviews and background stories. He has been following the Dutch national team as a regular follower since 2003. Read all his contributions this file!