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AFPThe gamers of Oranje have a good time

NOS Voetbal•vandaag, 01:04

• Jesse Wieten

  editor Dutch nationwide group

• Jesse Wieten

  editor Dutch nationwide group

“When will the European Championship be a hit? If we win. In any other case not,” stated nationwide coach Ronald Koeman on the eve of the European Championship.

Regardless of a removed from good event in Germany, it’s nonetheless potential: Oranje reached the semi-finals final evening. And that may be a particular achievement of this group and likewise a powerful instance of nationwide coach Ronald Koeman.

Koeman’s predecessor Louis van Gaal thought of the standard of his choice so restricted in assault that he solely noticed an opportunity of success on the World Cup with a conservative 5-3-2 system. It introduced the Dutch group to the quarter finals, the place the eventual world champion Argentina was too robust on penalties.

Break with Van Gaal

The Dutch group didn’t take pleasure in themselves in Qatar. The sport even made them grumpy. Firstly of his second time period as nationwide coach, Koeman conspicuously broke with Van Gaal’s line. “I need to do issues otherwise,” he stated. “We’re going again to the system we performed then.”

Again to 4-3-3 then. “In precept,” he added. With a defeat towards France (4-0) and defeats towards Croatia (2-4) and Italy (2-3), the outcomes have been initially disappointing. “Our system has nothing to do with this,” Koeman added.

Orange celebrates with crowd after reaching semi-finals

Nonetheless, after a summer season filled with complications within the European Championship qualification, Koeman determined to return to a system with wingbacks and three central defenders. Again to a formation that was similar to Van Gaal’s World Cup system.

Within the run-up to this European Championship, Koeman opted for 4-3-3 once more. It resulted in cheerful observe matches towards Canada (4-0) and Iceland (4-0) within the preparation and the European Championship begin towards Poland (2-1) was additionally optimistic.

In opposition to the powerhouse France (0-0) it was poor within the second EC duel, however that was not so unusual. In any case, the quarter last between Portugal and France was no spectacle on Friday both. It’s tough to play towards the group of nationwide coach Didier Deschamps, not to mention win.

The frustration of this EC was within the final group match with Austria (3-2 loss). Oranje received a lesson in fashionable urgent soccer, Koeman received a lesson from the Austrian nationwide coach Ralf Rangnick. It meant a 3rd place within the group.

Favorable enjoying schedule

The nationwide coach didn’t let this get him down, didn’t panic, caught to his fashion of play and noticed the reward come, partly because of a beneficial place within the knockout stage schedule.

Watch the abstract of Netherlands – Turkey and the response of nationwide coach Ronald Koeman under:

The Dutch group, itself quantity 7 on the FIFA rankings, is performing optimally. The sport is certainly inconsistent, it’s removed from being a textbook instance of the Dutch College, however is usually extra enjoyable to look at than in Qatar.

Above all, a spot within the semi-finals with this group is a wonderful consequence. As a result of as is thought, Oranje is lacking many gamers because of accidents.

In precept, Koeman has extra high quality at his disposal than Van Gaal on the World Cup in Qatar, however the quite a few accidents have considerably diminished that benefit. Key participant Frenkie de Jong is the primary absentee, he was within the stands yesterday in Berlin as a supporter.

However the absence of Teun Koopmeiners, Quilindschy Hartman, Noa Lang, Marten de Roon, Quinten and Jurriën Timber and Mats Wieffer, amongst others, additionally counts.

That makes the efficiency of Koeman and Oranje all of the extra spectacular. The nationwide coach realizes that too: “No person anticipated this.” He constructed an actual group from the gamers who have been obtainable and gave everybody the impression of being necessary thus far.

Semi-final, similar to in 2004

The Netherlands are within the semi-finals of the European Championship for the primary time since 2004. Again then, the semi-finals have been the ultimate vacation spot, with gamers resembling Clarence Seedorf, Jaap Stam, Phillip Cocu, Edgar Davids, Marc Overmars, Ruud van Nistelrooij and Arjen Robben.

ANPJaap Stam and Edgar Davids are dissatisfied in regards to the loss within the semi-final in 2004

Host nation Portugal was a lot too robust in that semi-final in Lisbon, though the consequence was not too unhealthy (2-1). That EC was not a memorable event, additionally as a result of Oranje didn’t actually impress in Portugal at the moment.

Within the occasion of an inglorious elimination towards England on Wednesday night, this event will most likely additionally go down in historical past. The highlights are too restricted for that. Furthermore, it’s nonetheless similar to the quarter finals on the World Cup below Van Gaal.

To make it an unforgettable event, England have to be defeated. An actual take a look at awaits on Wednesday towards the quantity 5 of the FIFA rankings, a high nation. As Koeman stated beforehand, the event has not but succeeded.