MATCH PREVIEW: Germany v Netherlands

[@look5000]

Verbruggen - Dumfries, De Vrij, Van de Ven, Hato - Reijnders, Simons, Gravenberch - Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo. Frimpong can come on in the second half for some speed!

[@momentoftruth9827]

It's something I've always said. Virgil is a different player when in the oranje shirt. Goes from an 8/10 for Liverpool each week to a 6/10 for the Dutch. He's slowed in the past few years and his weaknesses are somewhat disguised by his aura, leadership traits / body language and captains armband. There have been very few games where he's played for us that have been outstanding. Some would say he's still world class and this was perhaps the case 5/6 years ago when lining up for Liverpool but remember was part if a side that failed to qualify for WC 2018 and for me he is behind current centre backs like Gabriel & Saliba if we're talking about 'world class ' .

[@musashimiyamoto586]

You are complaining? We in Germany have "top players" like Tah, Schlotterbeck, the madman Rüdiger and other even lesser defenders. Hard to believe Hummels and Boateng that was 10 years ago.

[@momentoftruth9827]

Still astounds me people are calling for the inclusion of De Ligt or including him in their starting line ups . Do they want us to lose ? Followed his career since 2018. Failed to progress at Juventus - even when the like of Chiellini and Bonucci were present - if you can't learn off two of the best there is no hope for your development as a CB. At Bayern he lost his place, eventually to Eric Dier ! A career riddled with individual mistakes whether it be in the colours of the Oranje, Juventus or Bayern Munich. They are not minor errors either and the guy is now 25 so not inexperienced. Slow, turning circle of a oil tanker, reads situations too late, rash in the tackle - need I say more ? I'd advocate looking at alternatives, Botman when he returns, redeploying Ake at centre back and certainly Van De Ven needs to be a starter moving forward.

[@momentoftruth9827]

I'd also suggest a start of at least 45 minutes for Justin kluivert. He's been sharp for Bournemouth for at least a year, able to drop slightly deeper or as a front man. Sure he's not the reference point but far more mobile than any of our other options ie Zirkzee & Brobbey. As for mats wieffer. He's another Davy Klassen, De Roon, Til. Not the quality we need. He's been absolute pony for Brighton since joining for an astonishing £30 million.

[@momentoftruth9827]

Agree with Mike when he cited the two games Frimpong played against Iceland & Canada. Both 4-0 victories if I recall and the Leverkusen man caused absolute havoc on the right for the opposition. His absence and lack of minutes is truly astounding and more evidence if it were needed Koeman is not the man for the role of oranje manager. Regards to the front line. Neither Brobbey or Zirkzee impress me but why not put Malen down the middle? He started off initially as a no.9 then converted to right sided at Dortmund & later by Koeman. Malen has the strength & speed to be more impactful than the United or Ajax strikers.

[@FootballOranje]

@@momentoftruth9827 Frimpong also did OK in the Euros against France.

[@haroldwanyama8942]

@@FootballOranje I have failed to grasp Frimpongs exclusion

[@melheno]

Verbruggen, Van De Ven, De Ligt, De Vrij, Dumfries, Gravenberg, Timber, Reijnders, Gakpo, Brobbey, Frimpong. The problem of playing Hato is that even if he plays good he won't be an option because Ake will be back. De Ligt always complains playing right to Van Dijk, now he can be in place of van Dijk maybe he shines. Frimpong can cross, can run let him play.

[@FootballOranje]

@@melheno For Hato, he's not a bad replacement for Aké - a little bit like-for-like in terms of their position.

[@melheno]

@@FootballOranje agree, but the goal should be to play those players who gonna get minutes in the tournament, to improve team play. If we play Hato he plays good and in tournament Van Dijk gets injury and we sub De Ligt at least we need few practice games.

[@Rick-g4c]

Let me say it from now, Koeman is not gonna change anything. The players we currently have at center forward are definitely not good enough at least not at the moment and Koeman is incapable of seeing that. Van de Ven should start alongside De ligt at center back, frimpong at right back and Maatsen at left back. Simons needs to play in number 10 central behind the striker. The player who should be playing at center forward is not even in the team. Julian Rijkhoff is the best possibility of a proper number 9 but koeman won't give him the opportunity. When we get rid of koeman and get a real manager who can recognize young talented striker and get him into the team as early as possible giving him the chance to develop then maybe we'll start to get some goals upfront

[@melheno]

Your footballing knowledge is based on Science fiction! Julian Rijkoff is not playing for Ajax 1st team at all. He is playing like an average player for Young Ajax he needs a lot to reach Ajax level not even Netherlands level. Simmons is a useless creature wherever he plays. This is not a club football that there are a lot spaces, there are no spaces and he cannot pass, dribble and score. You cannot play Maatsen, Van De Ven, De Ligt, Frimpong, Germany will punish you 8:0 for not having physical presence at the Rb and Lb spot. The way Netherlands attacks we need 3 CB at the back and that is why Maatsen will not get a chance if we play 4 at the back because Dumfries is the one going forward.

[@FootballOranje]

@@Rick-g4c those two full-backs are very attacking and they would be exposed against Germany

[@Rick-g4c]

Funny you should say my footballing knowledge is based on science fiction because I mentioned Rijkoff being given a chance to play in the team when its Koeman who insists on playing weghorst who is absolutely useless upfront even Burnley decided to loan him out. If he was anywhere near being a top center forward please explain why even a english championship club got rid of him ? Don't even get me started on his flop loan at Man.Utd yet Koeman selects him. Brobby who for all the hype can't finish and if you're a center forward...🗣️ News flash! 🗣️ that's your job to be able to finish ie score goals which he can't do. By the way if Rijkoff is average, what do you say about Quinton Timber? What dazzling and sensation talent and ability has he shown to convince anybody that he is anything but a below average player? Yet Koeman has him in the starting lineup 🤔🤔. Tell me which center forward in this team is above average. PS : if my footballing knowledge is based on science fiction, what is yours and Koeman based on🤔🤔

[@melheno]

@@Rick-g4c 1. Lets start with Weghorst. Weghorst is a specialist player a 2m tall super sub who scored 2 goals to the Messi lead Argentina in quarter final world cup. Last game in Ajax he came sub scored header and pressed the ball got a successful tackle and assisted a goal. That is what he is good for. Burney decided they do not need a super sub and his wages were too high for them. Did we miss Weghorst against Hungary? absolutely last 20 minutes we should have crossed the ball and he could give us the header, not like Brobbey headed to nowhere. Should we start Weghorst. Oh no, no, no, no.

[@melheno]

@@Rick-g4c 2. Quinten Timber. Have you watched his games for Feyenoord? he is a midfielder with good potential he needs a good transfer to a team like Liverpool. Is he starting midfielder? not now, but Frankie is out, Schouten is out, so he starts. In my opinion, Timber has more potential and is playing with more energy than Schouten, so I would give him few games chance to prove himself, do not judge players with a single game. He and his brother both have something Kante-like in them.