On a sultry evening in Eindhoven, the Dutch national team suddenly fell apart, just after half an hour of playing football. Two goals within a period of seven minutes, as national coach Ronald Koeman and his technical staff probably had in mind. Beautiful, fast combinations, where the spaces were well found on the sides. And the finish is excellent.
Four meager, difficult international matches preceded it in Koeman’s second period, which started at the beginning of this year. A lot went wrong – injuries, a viral infection, loss of form among players. But also: there was no clear plan, no visible development. Resulting in defeats against France, Croatia and Italy.
Now it was all there, on an evening when it had to be, in the qualification for the European Championship against direct competitor Greece: energy, conviction, defensive control combined with a lot of pressure to move forward. Although not the biggest opponent, it is an evening (3-0 win) to build on.
This after an intervention by Koeman, deemed necessary due to the poor results: after conceding eleven goals and three defeats in four games, he surprisingly opts for a different system. While he returned to the classic 4-3-3 during his presentation in January, according to the principles of the ‘Dutch school’, that formation is already being overhauled.
Wingbacks are back
He starts against Greece with three central defenders and two ‘wingbacks’ – attacking full-backs. Those are Daley Blind on the left and Denzel Dumfries on the right. They need to cover the sides, with left winger Cody Gakpo and right winger Xavi Simons able to get inside a lot to create space. On paper, the playing style is 3-4-3 offensively, and 5-2-3 defensively.
Koeman largely harks back to the tactics used by his predecessor Louis van Gaal at the Football World Cup at the end of last year. That system was also based on three central defenders and two wingbacks. By building in that defensive security, Van Gaal hoped to be able to surprise against top countries.
Although familiar with that way of playing, the desperation is visible in the initial phase at the Dutch team. Where exactly to walk, how to build, where to find the spaces? Koeman’s assistant coaches jump up and immediately give instructions to Dumfries that he should stand a few meters differently.
Chasing off the Greeks
The Dutch team uses force to put pressure on the opponent, with striker Wout Weghorst in the lead. He pulls and drags, making it difficult for the Greek defenders. “It feels like we have something to put right,” Koeman said earlier this week. And the team also radiates that, in experience, in intensity. Although plenty still goes wrong – such as midfielder Marten de Roon’s loss of ball in the axis of the field.
It is he who scores the first goal. Dumfries jumps high after a corner kick from Blind, and heads right at the feet of De Roon, who easily shoots in after fifteen minutes. It is the goal that gives the Dutch team the right push.
Captain Virgil van Dijk’s joy is intense, moments after the 2-0. The attack starts with him, after half an hour of football. Van Dijk points to who should pass Adjutant Lutsharel Geertruida. To De Roon. He opens on the right, to Dumfries, who combines with Simons, after which the now boosted Dumfries gives a sensitive cross to his old PSV buddy Gakpo. He shoots into the short corner. Beautiful team goal.
The third goal is almost as beautiful. Gakpo makes a rush, opens on Dumfries. He again delivers a good cross, this time to Weghorst, the striker who rarely scores anymore, heads the ball in while diving. The discharge and relief for Koeman, clearly visible. Guest of honor Van Gaal nods happily in the stands. That’s how he thought of it for the World Cup.
Bottom line: three assists from wingback Dumfries.
The Dutch team is certainly not there yet, the route to the European Championships in Germany next year is difficult – with the next game in Dublin against Ireland on Sunday. The level drops in the second half and the Dutch team finds it difficult to break through the lines. But in Koeman’s dark first six months, this victory is a welcome bright spot. Late in the evening in Eindhoven there was a thunderous applause.
A version of this article also appeared in the September 8, 2023 newspaper.