With videoNational coach Ronald Koeman spoke to Wout Weghorst about the irritations during the training of the Dutch national team last Sunday. Wout Weghorst angrily left the field after training after a duel with Jurriën Timber. According to the national coach, we should not make it bigger than it is.
Jeffrey van der Maten Sep 9, 2024 Last update: 09-09-24, 15:14
“We briefly talked about what happened,” the national coach said during the press conference, referring to the irritated Weghorst. “We shouldn’t make it bigger than it is. We shouldn’t exaggerate it, it happens everywhere. He came to me in the evening. We talked about it again. Everyone realizes that it could have been different.”
“I didn’t think it was a problem,” Koeman continued during the press moment in the run-up to the cracker against Germany. “If it continues for a while, it has to stop at some point. But it also shows the characters of players. A bit of venom now and then and tackling each other, that’s allowed, right?” Weghorst got into a discussion with Koeman during training after a violation by Timber. Immediately after training, an irritated Weghorst jumped on his bike back to the hotel.
Depay
Koeman still did not want to make a definitive statement about Memphis Depay’s international career. “You always look at fitness and the level of competition. The level of the competition in Brazil is different from that in Saudi Arabia. It depends on whether he is going to play and whether he is fit.”
“I’m curious to see if we can continue that line against Germany,” Koeman continued. “If we can play our football there and cause them problems.”
Koeman wants to start working with a permanent striker quickly
Koeman wants to quickly determine who will be the regular striker of the Dutch national team. The national coach is still rotating during this international period, but that will probably be the last time. “I wanted to see both strikers,” said Koeman, who chose Joshua Zirkzee against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and Brian Brobbey against Germany on Tuesday. “I think about that and make choices. I expect that we will have space in the transition. I think Brobbey can handle that even better than Joshua. I was satisfied with how Joshua did on Saturday. A position is not determined on the basis of one international match.”
De Ligt retains starting position
Matthijs de Ligt will start again in the starting line-up against Germany on Tuesday. De Ligt made a mistake against Bosnia. “We talked about it,” said Koeman. “He didn’t come out well with his steps. It was a bad moment for a defender individually. You have to learn from that, it is clear that these kinds of moments need to be better. We shouldn’t be dramatic about it and put too much emphasis on it.”
Wout Weghorst and Ronald Koeman. © ANP view new updates view important updates
14:15
09-09-2024
The press conference is over, thanks for following.
14:11
09-09-2024
Koeman: “There used to be a lot more specialists. I tell the boys that they need to spend a lot more time training for set pieces. The physical coaches always try to prevent that. I walked around with a bag of balls on my back every day and I occasionally shot a free kick in. You can practice it.”
14:07
09-09-2024
Koeman: “I know Musiala and Wirtz are great players, but we also have good midfielders. They will also cause problems for Germany.”
14:04
09-09-2024
Koeman on Quinten Timber: “He is definitely a player you can start with, because he adds something. In aggression, moving through. He has mastered that.”
14:04
09-09-2024
Koeman on De Ligt’s mistake: “We shouldn’t be dramatic about it, but he should learn from it. He also did good things on the ball. It is clear that these kinds of things need to be improved.”
14:02
09-09-2024
Koeman on the incident during training: “I didn’t think it was a problem. If it continues for a while, it has to stop at some point. But it also shows the characters of the players. Occasionally a bit of venom and tackling each other, that’s allowed, right?”
“You fight for your place, so it doesn’t depend on your age what you can and can’t do.”
14:00
09-09-2024
Koeman: “We consciously chose to play with four at the back and we will do that tomorrow. It is best to stick to that.”
13:57
09-09-2024
Koeman: “I’m curious to see if we can continue the same line against Germany. If we can also play our football there and cause them problems.”
13:54
09-09-2024
Koeman: “Depay’s move is still not definitive. You always look at fitness and the level of competition. The level of the competition in Brazil is different from that in Saudi Arabia. It depends on whether he will play and whether he is fit.”
13:52
09-09-2024
Aké: “We played a good game, especially with the ball, but defensively we still have to make some steps. Especially when we play against Germany later.”
13:50
09-09-2024
Koeman: “We spoke briefly about what happened,” the national coach said, referring to an irritated Weghorst. “We shouldn’t make it bigger. We shouldn’t exaggerate it. He came to me in the evening. Everyone realises that it could have been done differently.”
13:49
09-09-2024
Koeman: “Apart from Frimpong, everyone is available.” About Zirkzee and Brobbey. “I wanted to see both players. Brobbey could have played against Bosnia, but I expect that we will have space in the transition. Brian can do that a bit better. I have every confidence in Brian, that he will show it.”
13:47
09-09-2024
Start of press conference
Koeman and Aké enter, the press conference is about to begin.
13:23
09-09-2024
Previous encounters
Netherlands – Germany is always a special match. In the last five meetings, the Germans managed to win twice, it ended in a draw twice and the Netherlands won with that memorable 4-2 in the EC qualifying match.
It is not the first time that the two countries meet in the Nations League. In the first edition of the tournament, the countries also met in the group stage. The Netherlands won that group, after they were also too strong for the French.
13:13
09-09-2024
Details of the past few days
Yesterday there was a commotion at the training of the Dutch national team. After Jurriën Timber stepped on Weghorst’s foot, the striker threw his shirt on the ground and angrily walked off the field.
Before the match against the Bosnians, Koeman revealed that Brobbey will start as a striker against the Germans. “I want to see them both as starters”said Koeman.
13:06
09-09-2024
Background Sjoerd Mossou
A refreshed Dutch team looked eager and energetic against Bosnia & Herzegovina (5-2), but the question is what will remain of that on Tuesday night against top country Germany. The middle group was rarely a problem, it was precisely against the top that Oranje often ran up against its own limitations. Sjoerd Mossou describes this in a background story.
13:02
09-09-2024
Today’s training
The Dutch national team has completed the final training session for the Nations League match against Germany on Tuesday with the entire selection. At the beginning of the afternoon, all 22 selection players appeared on the field in Zeist. Only the first fifteen minutes of the training were public. National coach Ronald Koeman then continued behind closed doors.
13:00
09-09-2024
Good afternoon
Welcome to the live blog about Ronald Koeman’s press conference. The national coach looks ahead to the cracker against Germany at 13:45. Follow the press conference live here.
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