Brian Brobbey set a good example against Young Belgium last night. The Ajax striker scored twice and was allowed to report to the Orange squad with Ryan Gravenberch this morning. The replacements of Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay can get a starting spot out of their minds.
“It does not seem to me that they will come in at once, if they were not already selected. But what is logic?”, said Louis van Gaal at the closing press conference for Belgium. “I come from the time when Tarik Oulida scored in the second team on Monday and then scored directly against AEK Athens in the Champions League.”
The national coach ‘prefers to play against these kinds of opponents’. “Now I am incredibly happy, because players of the highest quality play for Belgium. I have often said that I think Kevin De Bruyne is fantastic. He is a key player and also scores goals.”
Rivalry
The Orange squad plays its last game before the World Cup in a sold-out Johan Cruijff Arena. “That is also nice for the players to play in such an entourage. And then there is the rivalry,” continues Van Gaal. “I think it’s fantastic to play against the Belgians. I now mention De Bruyne, but they have more. Just like us, that has turned out.”
Watch the entire press conference below. Text continues below the video
Professional Timber
Captain Virgil van Dijk also joined the press conference and had compliments for 21-year-old Ajax defender Jurrien Timber. “At his age I wasn’t nearly as far as he is now. He is a great player and a real professional. He has a lot of potential and hopefully he can develop further.”
Ajax player Steven Berghuis dropped out against Poland with an injury, but is fit. The kick-off is tomorrow at 8.45 pm.
Double celebration for Orange tomorrow when it beats Belgium. Van Gaal is then the national coach with the most victories and the team then qualifies for the Nations League Finals. They will be played in June next year. The World Cup starts on November 21 against Senegal.