Our Writer Abdihakim Farah picks his Netherlands side to face Spain in the opening game of this summer’s World Cup.
- By Abdihakim Farah
With the world cup starting in less than four weeks most Dutch fans are wondering who will start against the World and European champions Spain. This will be the starting eleven if I am the coach of the Dutch national team.
Formation: 3-5-2
GK (Tim Krul)
In the past couple of seasons Tim Krul has established himself as one the best Dutch goalkeeper’s and one of the best keepers in the Premier League. Tim Krul proved this season that he is an excellent shot stopper who is great in the air and comfortable with his feet. If the Netherlands have any chance in progressing past the group stage Tim Krul has to start.
CB’s (Joel Veltman, Stefan De Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi)
The three centre backs all play their trade in the Eredivisie and all have a bright future in football. After the departure of Toby Alderweirld most Ajax fans were worried that they don’t have enough cover in that positions. However Joel Veltman has showed this season that he is an excellent replacement. He is showed that he his excellent at reading the game and is confident enough to play out with the ball. He made his debut for Holland against Colombia and kept Falcao quiet for most of the game.
Stefan De Vrij is arguably the best Dutch defender at the moment. He endured a very difficult start to season but showed great mental strength to bounce back a produced some strong display in the closing months of the season to help Feyernoord finish second in the league.
Bruno Martins Indi has been key for Holland in the qualification for the World cup, he already has 22 caps. The young defender is capable of playing as a center back and left back too. Bruno Martins Indi is confident carrying the ball of the defense and has plenty of pace to burn.
RWB, CDM, CM, LWB (Daryl Jamaat, Nigel De Jong, Jordy Clasie, Daley Blind)
Daryl Jamaat is established himself as the best right back for Netherlands. Jamaat possesses great work rate and is an excellent crosser of the ball. He can chip in with a few goals as he proved when he scored a great goal for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie against PSV.
Nigel De Jong has re-invented himself in the past couple of season. He used to be an aggressive player who wasn’t comfortable on the ball. But now De Jong is great on the ball and still is a fantastic tackler which would key when playing against Iniesta and Co.
Jordy Clasie ‘The Dutch Xavi’ will be key for the Netherlands. Clasie is our best passer and possess great awareness, i believe that if Clasie starts Holland will go far in the World Cup.
Daley Blind is the best Left back we have and is surely guaranteed to start against Spain. Blind has a fantastic engine and he is a great crosser and passer on the ball.
CAM (Arjen Robben)
With Netherlands playing without any winger and with Sneijder and Van der Vaart both past their best, i think Arjen Robben could start as our attacking midfielder. Robben has arguably been our best player for the past five years and will be key if Holland are to go far in the World cup. Robben possess great pace, dribbling and shooting abilities and is also guaranteed to play well in big matches. Robben is looking to gain revenge against the Spanish after he missed the one on one in the World Cup final four years ago.
Strikers ( Robin van Persie and Klass Jan Huntelaar)
Van Persie and Huntelaar has scored 75 goals between them for The Netherlands and will score in the World Cup. They are both great at shooting with both feet, great at headers and have all the qualities you need to be a great striker. With the Spanish defense guaranteed in making at least one mistake per game don’t be surprised if they both scored in that game.
I do not agree with this choice,the defence lacks experience,i think vlaar should start instead of veltman,and sneijder instead of huntelaar,because playing rvp and jkh together weakens the team defensively,but i would like to see depay aslo because i have great expectacions of him.
Very good team, near of the eleven player, in my opinión Vlar and Sneijder aré the best opción. Netherland maybe win the group
Agreed. The back 3 are still ‘kids’.. which might be the reason LVG opted for a 5 defender system, so Vlaar can be slotted in. This team is obviously built for the future, astonishing young individuals taking shape apart from the old guards such as RVP,AR,WS,VDV…. The only hopes are, these youngsters should guide the the seniors with their bravery and confidence. B.E.L.I.E.V.E
I think that this lineup has a great deal of potential. I like seeing RVP and Huntelaar playing together. Persie, Huntelaar, and Robben are the three most likely to score and finding a way to have all three of them on the pitch is very important in my opinion. I personally prefer not having Nigel De Jong on the pitch. He has improved but I still think he lacks some creativity and he has developed a reputation for rough tackles which may make some refs more willing to card him. With this lineup I would prefer moving Blind to Nigel’s spot, moving Martins Indi to LB, and then moving Rekik into one of the CB roles.
if lvg choose to play 5-3-2, my choice will be :
Krul-Blind/Vlaar/Indi/DeVrij/Janmaat-Dejong/Sneijder/Wijnaldum-Huntelaar/Robben
if 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1: Krul-Blind/Vlaar/Indi/Janmaat-Dejong/DeGuzman/Sneijder-Lens/RVP/Robben
I love your 5-3-2 players, specifically the midfielders. Wijnaldum was a beast in the u21 Euro until he got injured
Definitely need Vlaar in the CB role as the experienced leader in defence. After last WC (especially the final v. Spain), I am afraid to see what NDJ is capable of in the midfield. I’d prefer Blind in the defensive midfield role that he has already played at Ajax, and Martins Indi can shift to LB. Even if Sneijder is past his prime, he has shown that he has the composure in big matches, and unlike Robben, he has unbelievable vision to make that one killer pass that will get past the Spanish defence. Not to mention, Sneijder’s form in Turkey has not been bad this year (12 goals in 27 matches). I don’t get why he’s getting left out in the dark. I would love a Huntelaar-RVP pairing up top to dominate over the Spanish, but without wingers to cross the ball, having the big strikers in does not make sense to me. I’d go for RVP (Captain) and Robben alongside him, with the potential of Huntelaar and Depay replacing them, respectively. Robben showed that he has the pace v. Spain, and even if it is not the Dutch style, they have to accept that they will not have possession for a majority of the time against the Spanish. Sit back and hit them on the counter with speed.
Although I do love the idea of Huntelaar getting game time this tournament I don’t think it will happen. I actually prefer Huntelaar over RVP. I feel like RVP’s skills are more suited to domestic league rather than international. Also I can’t see Robben fitting as an attacking mid fielder. I think they need to find a way to get him on the wing. Also I’m really disappointed that Afellay wasn’t included in the team. Even though he hasn’t played much at all for Barca he is too talented to not be given a chance.
So happy to see the belief in our team from the fans tho! It’s a young team and a long run in the WC might be a long shot for us but when you believe, anything is possible.