Hamburg defender Rick van Drongelen thinks Netherlands missing out on the World Cup may give him the opportunity to impress in Oranje.
- By Michael Bell
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The 18-year-old is currently a Netherlands U21 international but has been getting rave reviews since switching Sparta Rotterdam for Hamburg in the summer.
Speaking to Bild, Van Drongelen admitted that he was disappointed in Oranje failing to qualify for next years World Cup but feels it may open the door for him to get his first caps.
He said, “Whenever we went to the World Cup, the whole country was involved. That will not happen now. Maybe that’s better, maybe this World Cup gives me opportunities. Oranje is not currently an issue.”
On his step up from the Eredivisie to Bundesliga, Van Drongelen added, “I came here to become a better player. I give everything every day, on and off the field. But I could not have wished for a better start.
“All of a sudden you no longer play at Sparta Rotterdam, but at Hamburger SV. I’m still Rick van Drongelen, but I play in the Bundesliga. People see you as a bigger player. But I can handle that. “
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This is true, this is a huge opportunity for the new generation of Dutch footballers; however, we also cannot overlook the ones that always seem to be constantly overlooked such as van Aanholt and Pieters. Jeffrey Gouweleeuw and Hans Hateboer are two more that could be great additions. El Ghazi can provide some creativity down the right side and Weghorst would be a welcomed addition and give us that Nigel de Jong type aggression. Also, time to find a third keeper. With Vorm and Stekelenburg well passed their prime and Padt seemingly far down the pecking order, it’s time to invite somebody else to training camp.