Rutten should continue the line of his predecessor. That suits Curaçao. So Rutten doesn’t have to build a new project. He has to make the existing framework tournament-proof. His experience will be helpful. Rutten worked at Twente, PSV, Feyenoord and in Germany at Schalke. He knows environments in which he had to quickly establish stability. This is exactly what Curaçao needs before the World Cup.
With Schalke, Rutten took over a Champions League participant in 2008, but quickly came under pressure when results failed to materialize. The club initially stuck with the coach, even though the sporting development was already going in the wrong direction. In the end, it was less a lack of individual ideas than of stability in the overall structure. For Curaçao, that is exactly the difference: Rutten does not have to moderate a large project, but rather stabilize a functioning system.
At the World Cup, Curaçao will not try to control opponents like Germany or Ecuador through possession. The basic system should be a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. The first pressing line directs the build-up outwards. Behind them, the midfielders close the half spaces. Curaçao will try to condense the dangerous spaces to make life difficult for the opponents.
When in possession of the ball, the selection does not look for long passing sequences. The first look is forward. The brothers Juninho and Leandro Bacuna are supposed to secure the first contact after winning the ball. Then passes deep or to the wings follow. Tahith Chong and Sontje Hansen are important for this: They can pick up the pace after winning the ball, tie opponents and try to get past them one-on-one.
It becomes problematic if this fails. If Curaçao doesn’t win second balls, the defense will be permanently pushed backwards. This can be dangerous against Germany because then shots come from the backcourt and from standard situations.
Offensively, standards can be important. Curaçao has physically robust players and several professionals who have played in high intensity European leagues. Free kicks from the half field, throw-ins near the penalty area and second balls after corners are realistic ways to create chances. Given the orderly game, it will be much more difficult against the group opponents.
Curaçao is playing the first World Cup in the country’s history.
