Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman and Denzel Dumfries preview UEFA Euro 2024 qualifer with Republic of Ireland
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00:00 ...on this Friday afternoon. Pascal, would you like to kick off?
00:05 Certainly. Thank you. Good afternoon, both of you.
00:08 Can I start with Ronald?
00:10 Last Tuesday you said you're used to it, players who get off.
00:16 But two more have joined us, Vrim Prong and Geert Truijden.
00:19 What did you do yesterday? What did you train for?
00:22 It's a long week, isn't it? And then you train.
00:27 But it's clear that a week like this...
00:32 ...is a week you can only train for a match on a Thursday.
00:39 And we did. But both players felt something was wrong.
00:45 And they couldn't go on.
00:49 In Jeremy's case it was clear that it wasn't going well for Saturday.
00:58 And in Lutz's case, we waited until this morning.
01:03 We tested him. But there were too many doubts, so we didn't take that risk.
01:10 Those were two exceptional moments. -Yes.
01:14 Did you take it easy today? -Yes, but that was the plan.
01:19 We played a game of head-to-head, but it wasn't without a lot of risk.
01:24 But it's not about the training.
01:28 It's about the injuries you get.
01:32 Are there any questions? -No, not normally.
01:36 Thezen was the only substitute. Did you think of any other names?
01:41 No, because...
01:45 ...Tezen is a player who can play in a three-man defence...
01:51 ...and also in a four-man defence.
01:54 So...
01:57 The plan was to play with Jorrel Hato...
02:01 ...to play against Jong Ranje after the match against Ireland.
02:07 In Sweden, but he'll stay with us.
02:10 I think this group of 22 is sufficient. -That's enough.
02:15 Or did you forget who to call? -Yes, because there are still...
02:19 ...players on the list we follow. -Like?
02:24 That doesn't matter, because we're with this group.
02:28 You're staying with 22. The pool is getting smaller.
02:31 Do you want to replace players for players?
02:35 Or are you considering changing the system?
02:39 That would be bad, in my opinion.
02:43 If one player is injured, we'll have to play a different system.
02:49 But you've already lost more. -Yes, but we have...
02:53 ...and you know that, we've been able to play with three central defenders.
02:58 We've played four against Ireland in the second half.
03:02 Fortunately, these players are very smart and can play in multiple systems.
03:08 Everyone remembers the first leg.
03:12 Will you play against another team tomorrow? -I don't know.
03:17 What do you expect? -Well, I...
03:20 It's hard to predict, because they played their last four games with four men.
03:28 They played against us man to man.
03:31 Maybe they'll do it again. If we learn from the previous period...
03:38 ...I think it's good for us.
03:42 Denzel, do you want to take it easy for the next 24 hours?
03:45 The next 24 hours? -Or even longer.
03:49 Not after that. -You can do that, but...
03:52 But you're okay? -I'm fit.
03:55 I think if you lose another player, you'll go again.
03:59 But what about the players? What do you think?
04:02 It's annoying for the boys to lose players with injuries.
04:07 No one does it on purpose. We're focused, we train hard for the game.
04:14 It's a shame for them to lose.
04:18 So other players are involved. Does it change the atmosphere?
04:23 No, we're focused. We know what tomorrow will be like.
04:27 That's what we're focused on.
04:30 That's what we're going for.
04:33 Did you look back at the game?
04:36 No, but I'm still upset about my loss.
04:40 We should have started better than we did.
04:44 That's an understatement.
04:46 Tomorrow you're 50th in the country. What does that make you feel?
04:51 I'm very proud to play for Feyenoord again.
04:57 I feel honoured to achieve that.
05:02 We'll keep going. We're only halfway there.
05:06 Yes. Thank you. -Thank you.
05:09 Thank you. Noa, you want to go next? -Yes, please.
05:12 Denzel, this period is not without injuries. You've had them all year.
05:17 Is it hard to create a lack of stability in this orange?
05:23 It's about injuries.
05:28 Every national team has to deal with that.
05:31 We have a full schedule.
05:33 But everyone does their best to be as fit as possible.
05:38 Sometimes it's a matter of power to get injured.
05:41 That gives the other guys a chance.
05:45 So it's difficult in one way.
05:48 But in another way, we're focused on our goal and our task.
05:51 Tomorrow we qualify.
05:53 Last time Ireland was here, the surroundings and the stadium were talked about.
05:58 Was that what made it difficult? Or were they strong in terms of quality?
06:04 They have a good team.
06:07 But we knew we had to start well. We let that slide.
06:13 But we got back into the game. Ireland is not an easy game.
06:18 I thought it was great how we got back into the game.
06:22 Ronald, what impression has Jorrit Haarten left on you?
06:27 Very good.
06:28 He's a 17-year-old boy who has grown up a lot.
06:34 In his football, in his behaviour.
06:38 So yes, I'm more than satisfied.
06:40 He's only 17, but he's a very responsible player in his own club.
06:46 Did you talk to him about that?
06:48 Yes, I did.
06:50 Especially about that.
06:53 You want young players to develop themselves on the basis of experienced players.
07:00 He's in a situation where he's a young player in a club...
07:05 ...where a lot of bad results are scored.
07:10 That makes it difficult for a young player.
07:12 Sometimes you need experience, but he doesn't have that.
07:17 And he's playing with a lot of foreign players.
07:20 So it's even more difficult and more difficult for him to keep his form.
07:27 That shows he's a very talented player.
07:31 You talked about Ajax last time. Do you see any improvement?
07:35 Let's not talk about that. It's about our game tomorrow.
07:39 But do you notice that a young player like Hato is improving quickly?
07:46 Of course. The higher the level...
07:52 ...the easier it is for these kinds of players.
07:57 But they have to play as well.
08:01 Especially in a period where we're constantly dealing with absent players...
08:08 ...you can see a lot of other players.
08:11 That means you get a selection and you can make choices.
08:16 And that's based on what you've seen yourself.
08:19 Not just what you see when a player plays for his club.
08:23 Is he an option to start tomorrow? - No, he's not starting.
08:28 Last question. On Tuesday you said that Derksen is often right.
08:33 That quote is used all the time in the show. Does he sometimes get it wrong?
08:39 Sometimes, when he talks about me.
08:43 Really? What does he say? - I won't repeat that.
08:48 You don't agree with him? - Not always.
08:52 Thank you. Thijs Smeenk, ANP.
08:54 Is Cody Gakpo your first penalty taker?
09:01 No, Virgil is my first. - That's changed after Greece?
09:04 Sorry? - That's changed after Greece?
09:07 Yes, because Wout was number one.
09:10 But Cody was number one in Ireland in September, right?
09:13 Yes. - But Virgil was also there.
09:15 The choice is that Virgil is number one. - Virgil is number one, Cody number two.
09:20 Let's talk about Xavi Simons, who is a fixed value at Orange.
09:23 At Leipzig he's still waiting for a chance to make a comeback.
09:28 Is he really working on that? - No, he's not.
09:32 Of course everyone wants to score goals.
09:37 But he's developing fantastically, and he's doing that at his club.
09:42 That's great to see, because it only indicates that he has a great future.
09:49 I don't agree that he's not doing as well as he did in the Dutch national team.
09:55 Of course he's had a few less moments in matches...
10:00 ...but I'm very happy that we have a player like Xavi in our team.
10:06 Thank you. - Riepke Bakker, Nu.nl.
10:10 Good afternoon. For the Dutch coach.
10:16 The European Championship is very close.
10:18 If we make it, is that because of the euphoria, the champagne...
10:22 ...or are we forced to stay away from it?
10:25 When we were given the draw, I had a feeling...
10:31 ...because if you look at other pools...
10:35 ...it's not in line with the pool we have.
10:40 So in the end I think that if we make it...
10:46 ...we'll do what we're forced to do.
10:51 But there have been moments, especially after the match against Ireland...
10:56 ...or the match against Greece, when we had to do it.
11:01 And I think that's a positive thing, with all the changes and injuries.
11:07 But if you look at the quality of this pool...
11:12 ...then it's logical that France and the Netherlands will be in it.
11:17 So a party, yes. We'll be happy.
11:22 But if we become European champions, we'll have to celebrate.
11:28 Thank you, Riepke. Maarten Wijfels.
11:30 Mrs. Fout-Denzel, the Dutch coach just said...
11:36 ...that if all goes well, we've learned from it.
11:39 That's what happened in the two matches against Ireland.
11:42 But do you still think that you'll start like in Ireland...
11:48 ...where the ball has to go long, but it doesn't happen?
11:50 Or the match against Italy in the Nations League...
11:53 ...with the right or left wing of Italy.
11:57 Do you think that will happen? What did you do with that?
12:01 You learn from the matches you've played.
12:05 We analyse the moments that happen as a team.
12:09 We know that we have to do better at certain moments.
12:13 So I think we learn from that.
12:19 The most important thing is to analyse it, to look back.
12:23 And that it doesn't happen again.
12:25 One more question for Ronald.
12:29 It's always about reliability. Players have to be reliable.
12:34 New players, like this week, how do you measure that?
12:41 That's not really a short answer...
12:47 ...to be 100 percent sure that it's true.
12:51 You see how players adapt to others.
12:55 How players with the same level will or won't play.
13:01 You see more of what you might see...
13:04 ...if you watch matches of this kind.
13:08 You see moments in training, in matches, in positions.
13:13 What we do, what qualities a player has.
13:17 And if that's possible at the highest level...
13:22 ...which is why I said it...
13:26 ...if there's a match in the Netherlands where it's 0-6...
13:32 ...it's all nice and all, but...
13:36 ...I don't know if a player is good or not.
13:40 I want to see them at the highest level, where you can put your performance.
13:47 That's the level of a Dutch national team.
13:50 One more question about Jerdy Schouten.
13:53 Peter Bosz used him as a central defender.
13:57 Do you see that as a man's need, or not?
14:00 No, I don't. I don't have that in mind.
14:04 I just wanted to say that.
14:06 I don't know how many central defenders we don't have.
14:11 I think seven or eight.
14:13 We could select and train them.
14:17 But if you see the central defenders tomorrow...
14:21 ...we'll be very happy...
14:25 ...that we have so many good central defenders.
14:30 It would be nice if you had that luxury in advance.
14:35 That's a bit less, but those are moments...
14:39 ...and periods, let's hope, that it becomes more spacious in advance.
14:47 Do you sometimes feel that you should leave out...
14:51 ...the central defenders of Spain and Italy?
14:57 Yes, that's true.
14:59 I have a history with Steven de Vrij at Feyenoord.
15:06 I've seen him for years at the Dutch national team.
15:11 He probably knows that he doesn't start normally.
15:18 When I see how he handles that...
15:23 ...and how professional he is, I love to see that.
15:29 Thank you, Marten. Martijn Krabbedam, two rows in the back.
15:36 Your predecessor said that there were only one or two spots available...
15:43 ...for new players for the final round.
15:45 How is that with you and this group?
15:48 Are there many spots available, or have you already made a selection?
15:54 No, I'll do that in the coming period.
15:58 It won't be easy to get to a few positions.
16:06 There are a lot of players who are available for that.
16:11 But we'll have to wait until next week, in March...
16:18 ...to make a selection.
16:20 If we do well tomorrow, we can start working with a group in March...
16:27 ...which might be a group for the European Championship.
16:32 But I'm not sure about that.
16:37 It's not easy to make a selection in a few positions.
16:42 But players might not be available.
16:44 Last time, you said that this group had it and will have it.
16:48 But you didn't say that it's the same now.
16:50 No, you don't know.
16:52 Besides that, there are a few players who are injured.
16:57 Let's hope that everyone will be fit by then.
17:02 But that's probably a utopia, to think about.
17:06 Deik's version dominates all the statistics in the Premier League.
17:12 But there was a time when things didn't go well and there was a lot of criticism.
17:16 Did you ever worry about him?
17:19 No, I didn't. Of course I saw that he...
17:23 It's not always the players themselves.
17:27 The Liverpool team is now...
17:31 ...better and stronger than it was at that time.
17:36 It's not always about one player.
17:39 Sometimes things don't go well.
17:42 But I never had any doubts about Virgil.
17:45 He's a fantastic player, a fantastic manager and a fantastic person.
17:50 I've known him for a long time.
17:52 But you have to be critical of Virgil, just like you should be with other players.
17:59 I have a good relationship with him about that.
18:04 But I never worried about him.
18:06 Ms. Outeijen, you can go.
18:10 Good afternoon. Sorry.
18:12 Denzel, we all know how your career has gone.
18:16 How much you've put aside for yourself.
18:19 But have other people contributed to your career?
18:24 Yes, definitely. I have a list of them.
18:28 Come on. - There are a lot of them.
18:33 But I'm very grateful for all the help I've received...
18:38 ...during my journey to where I am now.
18:42 I keep developing myself.
18:46 I keep looking for higher challenges with the people around me.
18:53 I'm very grateful for that.
18:55 I've been able to create a team that helps me with that.
19:01 What are those higher challenges?
19:03 You always want to develop yourself.
19:07 You want to improve certain things in your game.
19:11 You want to achieve certain goals.
19:15 You always try to get the most out of it.
19:19 Looking back at the 49 players, which one stands out?
19:25 Which game?
19:27 My debut, of course. That was my first game.
19:32 I've played a lot of great games.
19:36 I'm very grateful for all 49 players I've played with.
19:44 Thank you. Can you name the team, Ronald?
19:48 No. - No?
19:50 You're going to face Gibraltar for the first time.
19:55 Or Ireland?
19:57 I want to see them in one of the two games.
20:00 But not against Gibraltar. - Why not?
20:04 You want to test them, right?
20:06 You're testing them more against Ireland than against Gibraltar.
20:11 You've thought it through.
20:14 So you're going to play against them? - No, I'm not.
20:17 We'll find out tomorrow.
20:20 Without a diploma, how has Danning been doing?
20:25 He's been doing well.
20:28 During a week like this, you try to find new players...
20:34 ...who are present, who are moving within a group.
20:40 But also in his position. How he works, his attacks.
20:47 I'm very pleased with him.
20:50 There were a few moments when I thought he was good.
20:56 You look at the way he attacks, how he moves, how he chooses his position.
21:04 He's a real star. - So he's a Gibraltar player.
21:09 Or Ireland.
21:12 Thank you. - Jaap de Groot, in the back.
21:15 Hi, Ronald.
21:21 The list of resignations is like a red thread...
21:25 ...through the last few months of your political career.
21:28 Jordi Klaassen played a card game with you.
21:32 He said that the full schedule is so busy...
21:37 ...that he's choosing his club.
21:39 Did you feel that there were players who didn't do that?
21:45 Players who said, 'Wait a minute, is this right?'
21:50 No, there were no players who said that.
21:54 I think I said the same thing about Jordi.
21:57 I talked to him on the phone and he said that.
22:02 He said he wasn't 100 percent fit.
22:05 Now he's consciously chosen to be with his family during these periods.
22:12 So it's clear that he's no longer available for the Dutch national team.
22:17 And not for the European Championship.
22:20 But you didn't feel like, 'Is this right?' - No.
22:25 How different are the coaches' signals?
22:31 Do you feel like you have to listen to the rules...
22:36 ...because he might put pressure on the players?
22:39 No, no.
22:41 I'm in contact with the Dutch coaches before and after the international break.
22:48 I'm in contact with the Dutch coaches who are resigning players.
22:52 When a new player has to be called up...
22:56 ...in the case of Jordan, I first spoke to Peter Bosz.
23:01 I asked him if he was fit and so on.
23:04 So I don't feel like...
23:06 And that's what we're talking about with Robby Bergwijn.
23:12 They were here.
23:14 And I don't feel like anyone is telling the Dutch national team...
23:21 ...because I can see how much everyone wants to be there.
23:26 If it can't be done, it's because of injuries.
23:30 Last time, Virgil van Dijk gave a response to the question...
23:35 ...of why he would play 10 percent less games.
23:38 He suggested that he wasn't really waiting for the Nations League.
23:43 Meanwhile, FIFA is also working on the schedule...
23:46 ...to continue the World Cup with the club and the Global Nations League.
23:53 How much contact do you have with Nigel de Jong or with Mariano Vallejo?
23:58 You can get him back as a boomerang.
24:01 Of course we're in contact.
24:03 I'm also a member of a committee within UEFA...
24:08 ...which is led by Boban.
24:11 We spoke about that, because they have the ideas...
24:15 ...and I think it will happen that a Champions League will be played with pools.
24:22 The World Cup is FIFA, of course.
24:25 It will be a week longer.
24:28 We can only indicate what's good and what's not.
24:32 But for the rest, they'll do what they want.
24:36 But the signal can also be sent via the KNVB during the UEFA and FIFA conferences.
24:42 I haven't heard about that. - No, that's right.
24:45 The more pressure is put on the team...
24:50 ...the sooner the situation will change.
24:55 But if it doesn't... That won't happen.
24:58 A question for you, Denzel.
25:00 Last time, Virgil van Dijk said that the players were discussing the schedule.
25:06 How much of that is happening in Italy?
25:09 We're working on it, of course.
25:12 The schedule is full, of course.
25:15 But as the coach said, it's not happening.
25:19 I'm only concerned with the first few matches, because that's the reality.
25:26 That's what we have to focus on.
25:28 If we can play less matches, it's up to them.
25:33 I'm not affected by that.
25:35 How much do you feel you're on your own?
25:39 I can tell you that I do feel it.
25:41 After a match, you think the next one will be right around the corner.
25:48 But you try to be as professional as possible...
25:51 ...and take care of your body as well as possible.
25:54 Then you have to play the next match.
25:57 But you haven't heard from your club yet...
26:01 ...if the Dutch team could win the match?
26:04 No, I haven't heard that. - Thank you.
26:07 To conclude this press conference, we're happy to accept questions in English.
26:12 So, gentlemen, please go ahead.
26:15 Ireland's only points in the group have been against Gibraltar.
26:20 Do you think that's a fair reflection of their ability?
26:24 I don't know.
26:27 I think you watch all these games of Ireland.
26:33 Maybe they were a little bit unlucky...
26:36 ...against Holland at home or France at home.
26:41 It was a close result.
26:43 It's difficult for my position to analyse every Ireland game.
26:52 Still, we expect they will come to Amsterdam...
26:58 ...to win the game and to have a better feeling than they had in the last few games.
27:05 Evan Ferguson obviously missed September's game.
27:10 He's played 40 Premier League games at the age of 19, 15 goals.
27:15 What are your impressions of him? Where does he stand among young European forwards?
27:20 We know he's a good striker.
27:24 We got good information from our goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen, about him.
27:29 I watched him last week when he came in against Ajax Amsterdam.
27:36 He's a good one, he's a young one, he's a goalscorer.
27:39 We have to defend well because he's a good striker.
27:48 Were you surprised at the way Ireland started the match in Dublin against you?
27:55 I was surprised as well.
27:58 -Were you? -Yes, of course.
27:59 It was not the start we expected, what we had to do.
28:04 But it was also about the Irish team, who pressed a lot in the beginning.
28:11 We lost a few balls in the first part of attacking.
28:17 We gave them that confidence to continue with that kind of play.
28:24 We need to change that, but I don't know if they will start like tomorrow.
28:30 If they will start like how they started in Ireland.
28:34 How do you expect them to play tomorrow?
28:37 How would you combat a similar start to September?
28:41 I don't know. They will come and fight for a good result.
28:45 Maybe the system will be a little bit more defensive.
28:50 And maybe, if they got that good impression about the first half in Dublin...
28:57 maybe they will continue with that organisation, what they did.
29:04 All right, thank you guys for your attention. See you tomorrow.
29:09 Good night.
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