Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman and Denzel Dumfries preview UEFA Euro 2024 qualifer with Republic of Ireland
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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