NI fighting spirit can cause us problems, says Koeman
IN typical Dutch fashion, the Netherlands players cycled to work yesterday. It was only a brief bike ride from their accommodation on the magnificent KNVB campus to the training centre.
Smiles and laughter were evident on the players’ faces while there was plenty of chit-chat between the Oranje superstars.
But as soon as the training session started the fun and frolics were immediately replaced by focus, drive and a major will-to-win.
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, the great Dutch defender of the 80’s and 90’s era, has drilled it into his players that Northern Ireland pose a serious, physical confrontation tonight and he has warned them they must be fully prepared to go up against the green ‘fighting machines’ or risk being grabbed ‘by the throat’.
“They are fighting machines,” says Koeman matter-of-factly, ahead of the match at De Kuip stadium.
“Perhaps they haven’t got the structure or quality technically but it’s very direct, direct confrontations. They are a team that can make the games difficult for any opponent and we have to see how we can find the solutions. If they can get at you they will and they will get you by the throat. You’ve got to be prepared for that.”
Koeman wants no slip-ups and he’s demanded nothing less than victory from his star-studded group of players against Northern Ireland both here in Rotterdam tonight and in the return leg in Belfast next month.
Having missed out on the last two major championship finals, Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018, Koeman will not accept complacency or two draws which, due to a superior goal difference and games coming up against Belarus and Estonia, should be enough to see the Dutch through to Euro 2020. NETHERLANDS coach Ronald Koeman has lavished praise on his former midfield maestro — Northern Ireland skipper Steven Davis.
Ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 qualifier between the Netherlands and Northern Ireland in Rotterdam, Koeman admitted Davis, whom he managed at Southampton between 2014-2016, has ‘incredible footballing instincts’ and ‘incredible technique’.
Davis made nearly 100 appearances for the Saints under Koeman
The fanatical Netherlands support would not be able to tolerate yet another absence from a major tournament.
“We have to qualify still,” admitted Koeman. “Now we play both games against Northern Ireland for our ticket. It starts with this game and if we don’t get the result we want, it will be very painful. as the Dutchman guided Southampton to seventh in the Premier League and then the following year their highest ever finish in the top flight, sixth and a place in the Europa League.
The Cullybackey man (right) was a influential player for Koeman, playing as an attacking midfielder, and the Netherlands boss believes even though he is now 34, he is still a huge asset to Northern Ireland.
“I think if you are talking about football quality he is the best player on Northern Ireland,” conceded Koeman. “I was with Steven at Southampton for a couple of years, then he had more of an attacking role and now he’s more of a defensive midfielder but he has incredible footballing instincts, incredible technique.
“He has aged a little bit but he’s still very important. I would like to shake his hand before the match, and then hopefully again after the match with a smile.”
“We are better than our opponents in footballing terms but that doesn’t mean that it will be an easy game. They have a very admirable level of play and they are aggressive. We have seen that and we have to prepare the players to face that.”
Koeman watched with interest Northern Ireland’s brave and bold display against the Germans at Windsor Park last month and was impressed with how Michael O’Neill’s men stood up to Die Mannscheft but he feels the men in green may not be able to play that high pressure style on the road.
“It can be that home and away there is a difference in their game,” adds 56-year-old Koeman.
“I think at home against Germany they had the idea to perhaps try and finish Germany off and for an hour they were able to live with them and had the better opportunities, but from the moment they went 1-0 down you can see the spaces increase and the Germans took advantage.”
Koeman, since he was appointed in February last year, has changed the mentality and culture of the Dutch set-up. They showed in their dismantling of Germany last month and on their way to the Nations League final in June how they can perform as a fearsome collective group rather than quality individuals which was their downfall in recent years.
His squad is littered with star names including Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum, Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, Juventus’ rising star Matthijs de Ligt (above), Ajax’s Quincy Promes and Lyon striker Memphis Depay.
There is obvious pressure and high expectations from the home support, but Koeman is adamant his players, due to being at big clubs and therefore experiencing high level scrutiny on a regular basis, will be able to deal with the fans’ demands and produce a performance and result worthy of the famous orange shirt.
He confirms: “There is always pressure for Holland but I think that this team is very hungry. Not many players have played in the big tournaments and everyone wants to be there.
“These two games against Northern Ireland are really important, there is pressure but the players are used to that, they play for big clubs and they’ve got to win so it’s no different to that.”
But, if the Dutch don’t deliver then it will be ‘on your bike’ to Koeman and co.