AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Netherlands secured a 4-0 victory against Scotland in a friendly on Friday, but coach Ronald Koeman and captain Virgil van Dijk were not satisfied with their team’s performance ahead of the European Championship in three months. Koeman criticized their carelessness in possession, while Van Dijk felt that the winning margin did not accurately reflect their performance.
The Dutch team started slowly and only managed to score with their first shot on goal, a long-range strike from Tijjani Reijnders in the 40th minute at the Johan Cruyff Arena. They had to defend against several Scottish attacks before adding a second goal from Georginio Wijnaldum in the 72nd minute, followed by two late goals from substitutes Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen.
“It is strange to not be satisfied with a 4-0 win, but that is the reality now. Apart from the final phase, our ball possession was not up to standard,” Koeman remarked. He bluntly stated, “We will not win the European Championship playing like that.”
“The start of the match was tense and sloppy, with the opponent causing us issues. Mistakes in our build-up play and turnovers hampered our progress in the game. This aspect must be greatly improved,” Koeman emphasized.
Several Dutch players were sidelined due to injuries, providing opportunities for fringe players like Jeremie Frimpong and Xavi Simons from the Bundesliga to showcase their abilities. However, Koeman was unimpressed with their performances, attributing it to pressure or a lack of confidence.
“Regardless of your role or frequency of call-ups, the Dutch national team requires a certain level of performance. While they possess that potential, they need to elevate their game,” Koeman added.
Van Dijk described the match as challenging, stating, “There are numerous areas that need refinement if we aim to make an impact at the European Championship. Looking at the game, a 4-0 result does not truly reflect the performance.”
The Dutch team will continue their preparations with a friendly against Euro-2024 hosts Germany in Frankfurt on Tuesday. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Mark Potter)
