Saturday’s pathetic display against Bulgaria has sunk Netherlands national team to a new low and made the chances of missing another major tournament a real possibility. The performance was another indication that the KNVB made a massive error in handing Danny Blind the reigns.
- By Michael Bell
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Last night in the basement of the Vasil Levski Stadium, a visibly defeated Danny Blind sat in front of the press, “I have to look in the mirror” stated the coach that had just watched his side lose comfortably to a horribly average Bulgaria side.
The defeat brought widespread shock from fans and the press, but it falls in line to what Netherlands have become since Blind took charge during the failed European Championship campaign. The coach has only led the national team to competitive wins over Kazakhstan, Luxembourg and Belarus. Second tier nations such as Bulgaria, Iceland, Turkey and the Czech Republic now seem too strong for an Oranje side that can no longer claim to be a part of the European elite.
Bad luck can be used as an excuse for Blind, with Bas Dost having a match-winner against Sweden wrongly disallowed, while nine times out of ten Maarten Stekelenburg saves that shot from Paul Pogba and Netherlands don’t lose against France. Injuries have also played a part, with star man Arjen Robben missing more matches than he’s played, while Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij and Jeffrey Bruma all missed the defeat in Sofia.
However, most nations would kill to have the quality that Netherlands have at their disposal even if a few are missing, and Blind has shown that he has absolutely no clue when it comes to team selection or tactics.
The decision to start Matthijs de Ligt against Bulgaria was baffling considering his lack of game time for Ajax and the fact he had just made a big error in their draw against Excelsior just days before. Wesley Hoedt has been a top performer in Serie A this season and should have started, while Joel Veltman, Nick Viergever and even Daley Blind would have made much more sense instead of picking an inexperienced 17-year-old, who’s confidence must now be in tatters. Why was de Ligt even selected for the squad? Nathan Ake, and Jan-Arie van der Heijden would have warranted a call-up and added more big game experience.
Blinds midfield provided no cover, fight or creativity and his substitutions just left you scratching your head. Why bring off De Ligt when the damage was clearly already done? Why take off the only pace in the team (Promes) and bring on a second lanky and slow striker (De jong), which basically sealed the victory for Bulgaria with fifteen minutes to go? Why was a clearly confident Memphis Depay, who inspired the win over Luxembourg last time out left on the bench?
The most damning aspect of Blind’s tenure, however, is that Netherlands have become so predictable and boring to watch. The Oranje have always been among the entertainers in international football but the days of Cruyff, Bergkamp, Van Basten and even van der Vaart and Van Persie look long gone and what’s left is boring sideways passes to nowhere and aimless long balls. The players even look frustrated and confused on the pitch, with most a shadow of those we see week in week out for their clubs. Kevin Strootman and Georginio Wijnaldum are excellent for Roma and Liverpool, but look clueless in Oranje, because Blind plays them out of position.
Luckily for Netherlands, though, all is not lost. We are only halfway through the qualifying campaign and three points separates Sweden in second and Netherlands in fourth. Wins in four of the five remaining matches should be enough to nick second and a possible playoff spot, but the KNVB must do one thing, sack Danny Blind now.
They can not risk any more of these lifeless performances and need to look for new man in charge to bring back some confidence and passion. A meeting is scheduled on Sunday between the KNVB and Blind which will hopefully lead to the coach’s sacking. If not, then Netherlands can look forward to a summer in 2018 without Oranje at the World Cup.
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Now it is far too easy sackink blind, since the first game blind took charge as dutch team coach it was crystal clear he had no ideas not even the personality he had as a player, and whats worse this was confirmed game after game. Sacking blind doesnt throw all the guilt upon his shoulder, the main responsabily for the situation goes to the heads of the dutch football federation and i hope they pay for it!
“Sacking blind doesn’t throw all the guilt upon his shoulder, the main responsibility for the situation goes to the heads of the dutch football federation and i hope they pay for it!”
Well said Horriho.
After decades of Dutch influence on the world game (along with Brazil and Spain, the most positive, the most adventurous, the most beautiful, the most inspiring, of influences) the heads of Dutch football have rendered it IMPOTENT’.
Why? Well, because there has always been a conflict, a clash of forces between the conservative and powerful and the rebellious, adventurist, spirited; between the establishment and the critical; between the bureaucrat and the artist.
I think the current state of Dutch football says a lot about where Dutch society is right now. The conservative forces are winning.
Paradoxically, all this is one of the main reasons I love about Dutch football – it remains a true expression of its people.
I have to say given the anniversary of his passing that Cruyff’s discontent/contempt of the establishment should have been a warning that shone brighter, like a lighthouse against guarding the rocks. Despite the criticism of some of his analysis his overall message was clear – don’t go there, don’t get washed up upon the rocks.
The problem is that once the establishement gets use to success its inherent nature is to preserve it, don’t take risks, dont’ be adventurous, don’t try new things.
Yet the very success these men benefit from was founded and thrived on the opposite of what they are.
Yes these people like Blind need to go. But it is also up to others to find something that challenges and replaces, something that transcends the establishment, not back, but something new, inspired but not returning to the past.
One of my dreams is that a club or two (not Ajax) teach the players about the real history of Dutch football and what it means. To convince them to stay at the club rather than chase individual fortunes. To build something special and to go on and challenge at the top of European football. To be part of something bigger than themselves. An anti establishment club.
On a seperate point it is worth considering the case of Wijnaldum. In my opinion he was the best most complete player to leave the Eredivisie in recent years. He is the modern no.10. He can hold the ball like Sneijder, Silva, Iniesta, he’s super quick, he’s an aerial threat, hes quick with his feet and a good passer and shooter. All that he needed was to keep playing ten, gain experience, be under a good coach who believed in him and improve.
Given time he could have been one of the biggest threats in and around the box in world football. But since leaving PSV he has spent most of his time trying to feed the box.
Partly because his coaches in England who are all looking for 6 and 8’s to shift the ball from the backs to the forwards which has the skills to do. Its partly because Van Gaal successfully used him there in the world cup. Its partly because the national team continue to play him in this role.
He has lost what he was. This position has forced him to become defensive minded and possession focused meaning much of his passes are sideways or back. And the national approach forces this on him more than anyone. He is less a PLAYer now than he was when he left.
Again the KNVB are to blame here. It is clearly evident that the top EPL clubs favour Spanish and Brazilian player in the no.10 roles. Unless he was getting guarantees, for the good of Dutch football, he should of been persuaded to prove himself elsewhere. But why would any player like Gini listen to the heads of Dutch football. They want the players to listen to them and stay, but what are they really offering?
And this is one of the main questions – what is the KNVB and Eredivisie offering?
Its worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35lA9_GMMu8 as a reminder of what Wijnaldum was.
He should be captain of the national team, instead what do we have in his place, another Ajax player, Klassen.
i am Lebanese a fan of Dutch footbal since 1973, it is the worst team, the Royal Dutch Football Association must be blamed for chosing bad coaches like BLIND and not chosing the best ones like Cruyff the legend, and sometimes the players do not fight for their nation because of lack of patriotism that we find in teams like Germay,or how can we excuse the team of Koeman and Gullit and RIJKARD AND VAN BASTEN NOT TO WIN THE WORLD CUP< THAT IS THE STORY OF Holland
Toni, this is image of dutch players as arrogant, individualistic and not team players is unfair and has to be seen within the context of what is said above.
That is, in the aftermath of the success of 88 conservative forces took hold again. There was an agreement given to Gulit that Cruyff would coach them after Michels. At that last minute the establishment chose one of their own. The players lost faith, confusion reigned, individuals went their own way.The story of 1990 is one of sabotage by the same type of people that are sabotaging it. today.
Hire Frank de Boer! Make van der Sar head of the KNVB. Ruud Gullit, Ronald de Boer, Dennis Bergkamp should round out the rest of Frank’s coaching squad! Just a thought! With Ed de Goey or Stanley Menzo rounding out the goalkeeper coaching. Looking at Zoet yesterday he is not a sweeper keeper! Bring in Cillessen! He is so much better with his feet and has been looking good in the games he has played with Barça this season! His confidence is back!
By the way this is by no means a knock to Frans Hoek, the man is legend, but it’s like these guys aren’t listening to him anymore!
Its too late now he already finished us off. its not his fault its the fault of KNVB that takes them so long to find clear facts. We are really very sorry Bert van Marwijk . We didn’t know your value before you leave the Netherlands. It was a big mistake to let you go Marwijk.
Exactly. They should have had the guts to pull the plug after the Euro campaign. They had 11 months to do it and that’s ample time to search for and find a good replacement. They failed to act and are paying the price
Bert van Marwijk didn’t get Holland to the WC final, the players did. They probably would have got there with Blind in charge.
Knvb made a mess of everything after van gaal left. The appointments since then stink of bias towards Amsterdam and Eindhoven otherwise koeman would and should have got the job.
Feyenoord have the most genuine. Loyal and passionate fans in Holland and unlike Amsterdam which is a town for tourists the Kuip stadium is also where Holland should play all their home games as the atmosphere is ten times better than in Amsterdam and intimidating for opposing fans. Over the years national team players prefer playing in the Kuip as well because of this.