“We have fulfilled our duty,” he said in the press room of the Johan Cruijff ArenA. “We have the best team in this group. We have proven that. But a number of things still need to be improved. Sometimes what we show is not stable. We have to do something about that.”
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The Dutch team qualifies for the World Cup after a goal celebration against Lithuania
“We have so much quality in our group,” said Koeman. “But we also have to be tougher on each other. This way we can make each other even bigger and stronger. We can demand more from each other. Decisive players such as Virgil van Dijk, Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay also play a role in this. They are the strongholds in our selection. They can make the difference at a World Cup. They have to be fit for that.”
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Koeman believes in opportunities for the Dutch team
Koeman was satisfied with what debutants Emmanuel Emegha and Luciano Valente showed last week. “Emegha is a fast boy who scores easily,” he said. “He should have rewarded himself with a goal against Lithuania. Valente also immediately played between the lines during a short substitute appearance, just like at Feyenoord.”
Koeman believes that the Netherlands can do well in the largest World Cup ever with 48 participants. “But we are not just going to play a fantastic World Cup,” he warned. “We have to demand even more from each other. Because after a bad match you can be eliminated from a World Cup. I don’t see many countries that are much better than us. We proved that twice this spring against Spain.”
The Netherlands will play two more practice matches in front of its own audience in March with a European and South American team. The draw for the World Cup will take place in Washington on December 5. “Then we know whether we will play our first match on June 11 or, for example, on June 17,” he said. “Just before the World Cup we also play two practice matches. And then we have to see where we have to play. I experienced the 1994 World Cup in America. There we played in temperatures of over 40 degrees in Orlando. My football boots then seemed like heavy clogs. I seemed even slower then.”
Passed Reijnders felt annoyed and wants to stay in the starting line-up
Tijjani Reijnders wanted to prove himself more than usual in the home match against Lithuania in the World Cup qualifying on Monday. The midfielder said this after the victory in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
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Reijnders was passed by national coach Ronald Koeman in the home game against Finland last month and that happened again on Friday during a visit to Poland. Justin Kluivert was preferred as an attacking midfielder. Kluivert was missing against Lithuania with an injury.
“I was a bit annoyed, yes. I really want to play and that’s why I wanted to show myself today. It felt a bit like I had to take a step back,” said Reijnders, who opened the score against Lithuania after fifteen minutes of play and almost made it 2-0 in the first half. The former AZ player shot against the post with the outside of his right foot.
“It was about time I scored again. It has been a while,” said Reijnders, who faces a lot of competition in midfield. “We have a very wide selection with many boys who play football at a high level. That is only good for us. We all want to play.”
Looking back on the qualifying tournament, Reijnders was critical. “We have played some less good matches. These are learning moments for us. Our lower limit must be higher.”
The 27-year-old Reijnders made his breakthrough late and watched the previous World Cup in front of the TV. “Then I watched as a supporter and hoped that the Dutch team would win the World Cup.”