We give a rating out of ten to each Dutch player for their performance in the 1-0 defeat to France on Monday.
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Maarten Stekelenburg 5/10
The goalkeeper should have saved the winning goal from Paul Pogba but other than that looked untroubled. Made a good save from Gameiro in the first half and rushed off his line to deny the striker again in the second. Match will only be remembered for his error though.
Rick Karsdorp 8/10
Hard to believe it is only his second cap for the Oranje after an impressive performance from the 21-year-old, who after the game confessed he was playing with a damaged shoulder. Was solid at the back and showed a willingness to burst forward at every opportunity, earning several corners. The Feyenoord man now looks the favourite to nail down the right back slot.
Daley Blind 7/10
A decent performance from the left back who did well defensively and tried to link with Memphis Depay on the wing. Set piece deliveries were disappointing though.
Virgil van Dijk 8/10
Once again solid at the back and cleared anything that came his way. Made a crucial tackle in the first half to stop Gameiro and made several blocks in the second half. Undoubtedly Netherlands best player on the night.
Jeffrey Bruma 4/10
Most expected Bruma to be replaced by Stefan de Vrij but Danny Blind kept faith in the Wolfsburg centre back. Bruma was at fault for Pogba’s opener, stupidly giving the ball away in his own half and in the second half he allowed Gameiro to get behind him and Pogba to win a free header at a corner. Needs to show more concentration.
Kevin Strootman 5/10
Failed to close down Pogba for the goal and didn’t provide enough cover for the defense throughout the game. Was sloppy in possession and let frustrations boil over towards the end. A yellow card means he will miss the next qualifier against Luxembourg.
Georginio Wijnaldum 5.5/10
Couldn’t provide any creativity in the midfield and was swallowed up by Pogba and Matuidi. When he did get some space his decision making was poor and a number of attacks broke down at his feet. Was replaced in the second half after suffering a hamstring injury.
Davy Propper 5.5./10
Replaced Sneijder in the starting line up but struggled in the number 10 role. Couldn’t keep hold off the ball in the first half and struggled in the final third in the second. Has been excellent for PSV this season, but seemed overshadowed by France’s midfield.
Davy Klaassen 5/10
Positioned out on the wing and struggled to get involved. Showed some decent touches on the ball but kept drifting into the centre which sometimes left Karsdorp isolated at the back when France countered.
Quincy Promes 5/10
Fell to an injury early on in the game and replaced by Memphis. Shame for the attacker who was excellent against Belarus. Netherlands missed his pace for the rest of the game.
Vincent Janssen 7.5/10
Another energetic and bustling performance from the striker and he looked the most likely to score for Netherlands on the night. Only a great block by Koscielny in the first half prevented him from scoring while he should have done better with an opportunity early in the second. His hold up play was once again great and he looked visibly frustrated at times by the lack of pressing and movement from his teammates.
Substitutes
Memphis Depay 7/10
Came on early for Promes and showed some attacking intent. Looked the only player willing to take on the French defence and created some chances. He could have equalised late on with a volley which was well saved by Lloris. Decision making at times poor, though, as he wasted a late free kick by shooting instead of looking for van Dijk or Dost.
Bas Dost 5/10
Was brought on in the second half to add some height to the Dutch attack but failed to make any impact. Barely even touched the ball.
Jetro Willems 5/10
Was a late replacement for Propper and played out on the right wing with Blind hoping to use his crossing ability. However, failed to make any impact.
Danny Blind 5/10
Fingers will be pointed at the coach for his decision to keep Bruma at centre back and drop Zoet for Stekelenburg. Injuries clearly affected his decision to start with Klaassen out wide but again his team looked to have no clear plan. Once more a match ended with long balls looking for Dost. Deserves some praise for trusting Karsdorp over Joel Veltman with the Feyenoord wing back a revelation.
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Small comment, with Depay: “as he wasted a late free kick by shooting instead of looking for De Vrij or Dost.” I think looking for De Vrij would have been even more wastefull, he was not even on the field.
Agree with most of the ratings but Memphis Depay was not a 7. He may have shown willingness to take on the defense, but he failed time and time again in doing so, losing possession and sending the team back down the other end as a result. He is not in form to take on three players by himself and he was clearly shown up for pace. I don’t know why he was in the squad. Very poor selection by Blind.
Daley Blind and Williams on the left wing from the start would have been a much better option. But surely there are better options than this.
Great to see Karsdorp playing so well. Its time Williams gets a start on the left. Williams, Van Dijk, De Vrij and Karsdorp should start the next match.
Strootman has been a big disappointment since coming back. He was just as much at fault as Stekelenburg for the goal, if not more. I think Wijnaldum should occupy Strootman’s position, with two centre mids either side of him who can get on the ball and take on the opposition. Sneijder on the left and god knows who on the right.
The point is that it is too easy for the opposition to close down the space and squeeze the lines once the build up play begins. The 3 CMs must get the ball into Jannsen feet with smart mvt from them and the two wide players, as France showed last night. You can’t go down the wings or play long balls across field to the other wing all the time. We must be able to play through the centre as well.
The play has been ponderous, with every player taking extra unnecessary touches before moving the ball on. This can be ok as long as that tempo switches to quick killer passing combinations that result in an attempt on goal, but that was tried only twice in the whole match last night. Without Sneijder, Robben and the Van Persie of old, it appears we are not capable of such play. Either that, or Blind has been able to get across who, how and when it is to be done.
There are other ways to play and this has to be considered. Consider Iceland, Wales, Leicester. I think everyone just wants them to play with a bit more intent, purpose, belief and variety than what is going on at the moment. Clearly Blind has not being able to get them to do this.
We need to play players in their positions! I’ve said it once, I will say it again. We are in a Netherlands era where our defence better the midfield and strikers. We have a few world class wingers. I’m advocating 5-1-3-1! We barely have two strikers, maybe three, but it leaves us very thin. We have a few true CDMs, a few world class AMs to choose from and quite a few decent wingers who have the ability to play back slightly! I think this would be the perfect format. Even Strootman would be comfortable on the left pushed slightly forward, more than he did pushed back!
..very harsh rating of Stekelenburg but accurate for Bruma. Klaassen and Propper deserve -5 each. 10/10 for Ricky Kasdorp, 8 for Virgil.. Depay looked good.. should have played him left with Klaassen on the right or Toornstra instead. Danny Blind gets -5/10
Good ratings, I mostly agree. But Depay didn’t show me much. One decent set piece cross and a fluffed late chance doesn’t deserve a 7….5.5 for me.
Wijnaldum had a horrible match. Did nothing except give the ball away repeatedly, in his own half no less….should have been a 4.
I don’t think you can be too hard on Wijnaldum given that he complained about the discomfort prior to the match…And Depay was a little better off the ball than just what you saw, I don’t think he was a seven, but I’m willing to give him a 6-6.5.