Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman and forward Cody Gakpo preview their UEFA Euro 2024 last 16 clash with Romania
01/07/2024
UEFA
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
01/07/2024
UEFA
Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Welcome to Munich, everyone.
00:23And of course for Romanian press, welcome back to Munich.
00:27Welcome to Netherlands press conference before round of 16 match against Romania.
00:31Here with me are Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman and player Cody Gakpo.
00:37Today we have Dutch, Romanian, English and German interpretation available.
00:42I'm sure you know the drill, just see the tokens on the posters, download the app and
00:49you're ready to go.
00:51Please raise your hand if you want to ask questions.
00:54Introduce yourself, wait for Peter and Nastia to help you, to help me.
01:00Wait for the microphone and one question only, please.
01:03Be respective towards your colleague.
01:05We'll start with Cody because he has to go to the training.
01:09So questions for Cody Gakpo, please.
01:12Yes, we'll start in the second row here.
01:17Good afternoon, both of you.
01:24Good afternoon.
01:25Cody, tomorrow Romania will undoubtedly start fighting from the first minute.
01:30How can you best counter that?
01:32Well, we have to start fighting from the first second, I think.
01:40I think we trained well this week.
01:43We have a good fighting plan and we'll start playing from there.
01:53We'll continue on this side, lady in the second row.
01:57Good afternoon, Cody.
01:59Do you notice any change in the team after the game against Austria?
02:02As if it was a real wake-up call?
02:05Well, not much change after that game.
02:09In the end, everyone was disappointed that we had lost.
02:15Everyone knew it had to be better.
02:19We talked about that, we trained on that.
02:22In the end, we were still in the pool.
02:25It's really going to start now.
02:28Everyone is aware of that.
02:30We have to be there tomorrow.
02:35We'll go on the right side.
02:38Hello, I'm Teodor Smetate from Golasov.ro, Romania.
02:42If I ask Cody something, can I ask Mr. Kuman afterwards?
02:49Now for Cody and then we'll...
02:51Okay.
02:52So, for Cody, three years ago you played against Romania at Euro Under-21.
03:01And the score was 1-1.
03:05What do you remember about that time and how's it going to be tomorrow?
03:12I think the 1-1 game was the first game in the group.
03:16They scored a wonderful free kick, if I remember correctly.
03:20It was a very tough game.
03:23I think we can expect the same tomorrow.
03:26I think it will be a tough game.
03:28We have to fight in moments and that's what we're prepared to do.
03:33I think everybody from our team is looking forward to it.
03:37We want to show a reaction from the last game and show everybody how good we can be.
03:43Hello, I'm Daniel Grigore from Sportor.ro, Romania.
03:46Cody, you're now up against one of the best right-backs at this tournament, Andrei Iratiu.
03:51How do you plan to get the best out of him?
03:54I have to make his life very difficult tomorrow.
03:58I'm going to try to go in the 1v1s with him.
04:02It's going to be a tough battle, but it's good for me.
04:09I have to try my best to go past him and to be important for the team as well.
04:14I'm looking forward to that as well.
04:16Hi, Cody.
04:17A short question.
04:18Three quarters of the Dutch think Oranje is going to win tomorrow.
04:21Maybe a little, but a lot of confidence.
04:23What does it do to you?
04:25It does me and I think the whole team a lot of good.
04:29Of course, we know that we have disappointed the country a bit after the last game.
04:35But we're going to do our best.
04:38Of course, we know that we have disappointed the country a bit after the last game.
04:44But we want to win every game.
04:48This game is part of it.
04:50We feel the confidence in the group grow as the week progresses.
04:55It's nice when the whole country is behind you.
04:59That does us a lot of good.
05:01Every time we see that orange wall in the stadium, it does us good.
05:08It makes us run harder.
05:10Hopefully, we can do that again tomorrow for the country.
05:19Wout Weghorst said that there was not enough energy in the Netherlands after the game.
05:24How can you be sure that you will have energy tomorrow?
05:27What is that?
05:28Is it conceivable or not?
05:31If I knew that, we would have made sure that we had played the game.
05:36Unfortunately, we don't deliver enough at the moment.
05:41Of course, we try to make each other as sharp as possible for a game like tomorrow's.
05:48We have to be there with everyone tomorrow and deliver enough energy.
05:53With the ball, without the ball.
05:55That's the instinct.
06:00Without Weghorst?
06:02That's possible, but Wout is part of our team.
06:05We need everyone.
06:31I cannot name one in particular that was the best one in my eyes.
06:36As a team, they were very good.
06:38They have in the attacking line some dribblers like Adji and Man, if I say it right.
06:45On the midfield, steady midfielders as well.
06:48Like your colleague already said, the right back was a good one.
06:51Some good players.
07:01We'll continue with head coach.
07:03So, questions for Ronald Koeman.
07:06Who will start?
07:07We'll start as before.
07:09Second row, here.
07:14Good afternoon, Ronald.
07:15Good afternoon.
07:16It's been a week since the last game.
07:19We heard from the players that there was talk and analysis.
07:24How did you experience this week?
07:26What did you see happening in the team?
07:28How are they doing now?
07:31First of all, it was a very long week.
07:36I wish it had been a bit shorter.
07:39Seven days between the last game and tomorrow's game is long.
07:45On the other hand, we had enough time to look back at the game.
07:52To analyse where we went wrong and where we weren't doing well.
07:58Sometimes it might seem like there's not enough energy.
08:04But it can also be because the opponent is better and more solid.
08:10And we're not compact enough.
08:13So it seems like you're not aggressive.
08:16But you're always too late.
08:18So I think there were enough reasons to look back at it.
08:25And we did.
08:27The players and staff were very open about it.
08:32And then you go on and train.
08:34And you see a reaction from the players.
08:39That the disappointment is being processed in many ways.
08:45And that everyone knows and shows how it can and should be done differently.
08:53But again, that's what happened.
08:56But you have to see the confirmation tomorrow.
09:14The Netherlands lost the qualifying for the final tournament.
09:18Johan Cruyff said that he hurts his eyes when he's looking at the Dutch national team play.
09:26What do you think Johan Cruyff would have said about the Dutch national team after your defeat against Austria?
09:37It's a little bit difficult question.
09:40I know that he really liked attacking football.
09:47But I was part of his team for a long time.
09:52And we had worse matches than we did against Austria.
09:57But of course, we are a proud nation.
10:03We like to win.
10:04We like to play nice football.
10:06But it doesn't always happen.
10:09We take the critics, no problem.
10:13And we like to turn it for tomorrow.
10:16And to make the people happy about the final result.
10:20We take Romania really seriously.
10:23Because it's easy to think about the national team of Holland that they don't take them really seriously.
10:31We take them very seriously.
10:33We know what we can expect.
10:36And we need to improve compared to the last match.
10:40And that's what we like to do.
10:45You have made a lot of changes on the midfield.
10:49In what way is Daley Blind a serious option for you to start tomorrow?
10:53Also considering his qualities on the ball.
10:55Well, of course.
10:56It's also clear that we have made changes.
11:00That is of course indicated by the many absent players.
11:07Especially on the midfield.
11:09Then you look at another, new midfield.
11:12That has been good at times.
11:14That has not been good at times.
11:16But it's clear that we have made changes.
11:19Then you look at another, new midfield.
11:21That has been good at times.
11:23That has not been good at times.
11:25So you try to make a logical choice.
11:30And whether Daley is an option there.
11:32Yes, Daley is an option for several positions.
11:49Is Xavi ready to take on such a huge challenge like Bayern?
11:53And if you would recommend him to join Bayern?
11:59It's a great talent.
12:01And big talents, they can play in every place.
12:07And he showed it first in Holland.
12:09He showed it in Leipzig last season.
12:15And he's one of the players of the Dutch national team.
12:19And if you're part of the Dutch national team,
12:21you can play in Bayern Munich.
12:25And he and his family and his people around him
12:30are really serious.
12:33And they think about what is the best step for him.
12:38How we change PSV for Leipzig.
12:43And okay, I don't know.
12:45Because we are busy for this tournament.
12:48And for every player, I wish the best.
12:52And the best club and the best position to play.
12:56And to keep improving as a young player.
13:01We'll continue here.
13:03Hey, Ronald.
13:04You've experienced the game against Austria more often in the past year and a half.
13:09That it goes through the bottom line.
13:11What can you do to make it more stable?
13:14And what did you do specifically this week?
13:18Well, you try to make the team more stable.
13:21To give away less space.
13:24And to give even more attention to how we have to play with pressure.
13:29And to put pressure.
13:31And we've spent a lot of attention on that.
13:34And that's sometimes difficult.
13:36Because even in the game against Austria, we were also very sloppy.
13:40And then you come too late.
13:42And if they put pressure on you,
13:46then you end up in a situation in a game where they are dominating
13:51by playing with confidence and losing confidence in us.
13:54And that's often the difficult thing in football.
13:57But it's clear that the spaces, and also on the midfield,
14:02and I've indicated that,
14:05that there are things that can and must be improved.
14:09But I also point out that we're playing with a whole new midfield.
14:15And that gives adjustments.
14:18It also gives adjustments to the players behind these midfielders.
14:21And also the players in front of these midfielders.
14:24And we just try to make the best choice every time.
14:39You just talked about the midfield.
14:42With Frenkie de Jong, you're missing one very important player in the midfield.
14:47How do you evaluate the midfield when it comes to finding the attackers with passes
14:53and putting them in positions where they can be effective and dangerous?
14:59Yeah, of course.
15:00But that's a long story.
15:03And I don't like to talk too much about us missing.
15:08It's the team and the selection that we have.
15:12And we need to improve.
15:14But it's not only the midfield.
15:16But sometimes the communication between the centre-backs and the midfield players
15:21needs to be better.
15:23And we need to communicate much more than we did.
15:26And sometimes by talking, to have good communication,
15:30you can solve problems in spaces that your opponent will take.
15:36And that's training, that's talking, and that's being clear to everybody
15:44what's the way, how we like to press the opponent.
15:48And that means a lot.
15:50And we need to improve in that.
15:53Yes.
15:54Hi, Ronald.
15:55Stan Wachman from nu.nl.
15:57Van Dijk said this week that the hard words were spoken.
16:00Did you interfere in those conversations?
16:04I think so, right?
16:07But I'm responsible, so I'm going to be there.
16:14But why?
16:15Because those players can interact with each other.
16:18You've talked about that before.
16:20Communicating with each other.
16:22But you felt the need to be there.
16:25Well, if it's about the match, then I'll be there.
16:48What are Romanian strengths, after you analyzed the team?
16:53It's a team that will be really aggressive.
16:58Defensive-wise, they are strong physically.
17:02And they have some individuals.
17:06They are dangerous out of corner and free kicks.
17:10And I think that's enough.
17:15In the center, on the right.
17:19Ronald, when you fall, you talk about a golden Rolex.
17:23Does this match and this part of the schedule feel like an incredible puzzle?
17:29Can you say what you want to see tomorrow in your team as a reaction to Austria?
17:36Well, I...
17:39I think in 2021 there was also that kind of noise about the schedule.
17:47And then they got the Czech Republic, and then it was over.
17:50So let's not take a schedule too positively.
17:54And improve ourselves.
17:57And make sure we win and move on.
18:01And in the end, that might be the case.
18:03But again, that's not based on anything.
18:06And what needs to be improved is that there is a more compact team.
18:11A team that is more aggressive.
18:14And that communicates better with each other.
18:18And in which the creative players can and must make the difference.
18:26I think that's where our improvement should be.
18:32Ronald.
18:33Anthony Driessen, Telegraaf.
18:35We also found seven days very long.
18:38Advice for you.
18:39Maybe you can invite us next time for a cup of coffee.
18:42That would be very nice.
18:44I think.
18:45Do you think that's nice?
18:47Yes, I always think it's nice with you.
18:49I missed you guys.
18:51Yes, I'd love to.
18:52It was also long.
18:53Shall we do it next time?
18:55I would definitely do that.
18:57I think the relationship will certainly improve.
19:00We have heard Van Dijk and Ake.
19:03They say this will never happen again.
19:06Memphis says the tournament will only start for them now.
19:10That's a lot too late.
19:12What kind of insurance do they offer you?
19:15What kind of insurance do you get from these guys that it will never happen again?
19:21What Sjoerd just said.
19:23Because you've been disappointed a few times already.
19:27Yes, but you can think and say what needs to be improved.
19:34If something doesn't happen anymore.
19:36But it is and remains football.
19:38There will always be moments for whatever reason.
19:43I have also felt that.
19:47How the players have said things about each other.
19:52That will happen.
19:56But you are never sure that it won't happen in four months.
20:00Or in three games.
20:04If you say it won't happen anymore.
20:07It doesn't always depend on the attitude.
20:10It can also be that the opponent is better.
20:14I have noticed that the way they communicated with each other.
20:19That's my feeling.
20:21But what is a feeling?
20:23Sometimes you have a bad feeling.
20:25Then that is not really reassured later.
20:28It has also happened the other way around.
20:30But I think the way in which the defeat, the criticism.
20:35Keeping the mirror in front of everyone.
20:40That it worked positively.
20:43But again, you have to provide that proof.
20:47And you can only show it when you play in a game again.
21:06Hello, I am remote.
21:10You are sitting in a tunnel?
21:14We can hear you and we can see you.
21:16Just go on.
21:18Mr. Michels, you played in the wonderful team of 1988.
21:23Here in Germany.
21:26And your coach was Michels.
21:29Can you tell us a bit about that time?
21:33How did he motivate players?
21:35What did you learn from him?
21:37Did he speak of 1974?
21:39Just for the old people.
21:41Give some nostalgia.
21:43Can you repeat your question?
21:47Okay, Mr. Kuhlmann.
21:49You played in the great team of 1988 in Germany.
21:53Here.
21:55And the coach was Reines Michels.
21:58Which is of course so mythological.
22:01Can you tell us a bit about those times?
22:03How did he motivate the team?
22:05Did he speak of 1974?
22:07What did you learn from him?
22:09Some nostalgia for the old generation.
22:12The coach at that time, Reines Michels, was a big personality.
22:17He didn't talk a lot.
22:19But the personality was there.
22:22We had a really good group of players.
22:25And a good group of quality players.
22:28We had a good ambience in the team.
22:32If we get a little bit of that luck, what we had in 1988,
22:35we will win tomorrow.
22:39Okay, you can't compare it.
22:41Because it was different football.
22:46Difficult.
22:48Different physical football.
22:52But it was a great time.
22:54And happy to win that tournament.
22:57But you can't compare it.
23:00Of course, as a coach, you learn from coaches like Michels, like Cruyff.
23:06Of course.
23:08And you try to have good communication with your players.
23:11To create a good ambience.
23:14That they are confident in themselves and the rest of the group.
23:20Anyway, we need to show it after the last match against Austria.
23:28Thank you, coach.
23:30Good luck tomorrow.
23:31Thank you all.
23:32Just a reminder, especially for Dutch media.