There have been more relaxed times in Dutch football: Before the crucial European Championship qualifying games on Friday (October 13th, 2023) against France and the following Monday against Greece (both 8:45 p.m., live ticker at sportschau.de) there was a hail of cancellations at the model club Ajax Amsterdam is in chaos.
The last matchday in European Championship qualifying group B is like a picture of football history. Greece could perhaps make a miracle come true with a victory in France, which will probably have long since been confirmed as a participant. And the Netherlands are competing in Gibraltar at the same time, so acute fear of embarrassment could then break out.
Equal points with competitor Greece
But it’s not that far yet. This last matchday takes place on November 21st, now the preparatory work is being done. France leads Group B with 15 points and has not yet conceded a single goal. Behind them are Greece and the Oranje team with nine points each, although the Dutch have only played four times.
Nevertheless, the duel between the two pursuers of France already has something of a final-like character. There will probably be an unforgettable atmosphere for the Dutch at the Agia Sophia Stadium in Nea Filadelfia, a suburb of Athens. What the Greek team is capable of will be exciting to watch.
Ajax is doing very badly
The mood in which Ronald Koeman’s team will arrive for this “dood-of-gladioles” match (that’s what the Dutch call decisive games) will of course also depend on the outcome of the duel with France, but the conditions are not good.
The crisis that is currently shaking Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch model club, the record champions, the trendsetter of the country and sometimes even the continent when it comes to training young talent, tactics and the modernity of this sport, seems almost incomprehensible from a neighboring country’s distance. Ajax is staggering towards relegation in 16th place in the Eredivisie table, only Volendam and Utrecht are worse off. Hooligan excesses recently caused the game against Feyenoord to be abandoned, the score was 0-3, and when the game continued without fans it became 0-4.
Frimpong and Gravenberch snub the U21s
In order for Elftal to do well, Ajax actually has to do well too. And since the 4-0 defeat at the start of the European Championship qualification in France, there has been little movement. Most recently, Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, for example, didn’t think it was necessary to accept an invitation to the U21 because, in terms of performance, he saw himself in the A team for a long time. This was followed by a public slap in the face from bond coach Koeman, but he is actually nominated for the two upcoming games.
Teun Koopmeiners and Memphis Depay (r.) in the 4-0 defeat against France
Ex-Munich and new Liverpool player Ryan Gravenberch is now serving a penalty for the same offense: the U21 recently invited him in vain. Koeman criticized his rejection on the grounds that he currently had to focus on his new club “wrong decision” and “not a good idea at all”. Koeman continued: “We are not at all happy with these cancellations. You can recommend yourself through good performances in the juniors. It is the players’ duty to play in every team.”
Without de Jong, de Ligt, Gakpo and Depay
In addition to Gravenberch, numerous other stars are missing for the double pack against France and Greece due to illness and injury. Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Matthijs de Ligt (FC Bayern Munich), Cody Gakpo (FC Liverpool), keeper Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord Rotterdam) and Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid) were not there when the squad was announced. At the weekend, Noa Lang (Feyenoord Rotterdam) and goalkeeper Mark Flekken (FC Brentford) also canceled.
This creates a major problem in the Dutch goal. In addition to ex-Freiburger Flekken, two newcomers were nominated: Nick Olij from Sparta Rotterdam and Bart Verbruggen from Brighton and Hove. Koeman has now nominated Andries Noppert, who was surprisingly allowed to play at the World Cup in Qatar, but then lost his place to Bijlow and was ultimately not even allowed into the squad. The selection of two novices and the actual number five reflects the overall situation of the Elftal in the final spurt to qualify for the European Championship. The whole of Orange hopes that there will be no final in Gibraltar.