Only three days left to face Turkey in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, Ronald Koeman constantly thinking about the right wing, a position where the coach of Netherlands He used, initially, four different players in four games: Xavi Simonscommitted to the premiere with a victory over Poland (1-2), Jeremie Frimpongin front of Denzel Dumfries to an aimless draw on France, Donyell Malenagainst KO Austria (2-3), and Steven Bergwijnsurprise starter in the round of 16 duel match Romaniaended 0-3 in favor of ‘Oranje’.
Unprecedented in the group stage, Bergwijn was replaced “due to physical problems” at half time, being Malen the choice of Koeman to relieve him ahead Frimpongwhich didn’t quite fit the former coach’s system FC Barcelona.
The student of Xabi Alonsorevelation to Bayer Leverkusenwas left without playing for the second straight game, while Malenauthor of 15 goals and five assists in the 2023-24 season including Borussia Dortmundrespond to the confidence of Koeman closed the Dutch victory with two goals, the second of them, already in stoppage time, starting in their own field.
A performance where the former PSV Eindhovenwho in the summer of 2021 obtained 30 million euros for his transfer, is opposed to a place in the most recently defined eleven ‘Oranje’, with Bart Verbruggen under the sticks; Dumfries, Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij and Nathan Ake back, Jerry Schouten and Tijjani Reijnders on the double pivot and, above, Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo‘Pichichi’ of the Euros with three goals, shielding Memphis Depay.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
