Euro 2024 Team Guides Part 15: The Netherlands
Wolfsburg, Germany – The Netherlands, led by manager Ronald Koeman, have arrived in Wolfsburg for their Euro 2024 preparations, with many players enjoying the view of the massive Volkswagen plant from their hotel rooms. The Dutch team, known as the “Oranje,” are determined to prove their worth despite the injury setbacks that have plagued their preparations.
Koeman, who won Euro 1988 as a player, acknowledges that there are “really strong nations” in the competition, but believes the Netherlands is one of the contenders. “Maybe France a little bit more than the rest because they have a lot of experience,” he said, “but it will be an open fight between different nations, and one of them is Holland.”
The Dutch squad has faced its fair share of challenges, with midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners sidelined due to ankle and groin issues, respectively. The latest concern is striker Brian Brobbey’s hamstring problem, prompting Koeman to call up Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee as a replacement.
Despite the obstacles, the Dutch camp remains positive. Captain Virgil van Dijk is widely regarded as the best defender in the world, while Denzel Dumfries and Jeremie Frimpong are two of the game’s most exciting full-backs. The emergence of 21-year-old Xavi Simons has also caught Koeman’s eye, and the manager is excited about the youngster’s potential.
As the Netherlands prepare for their opening match against Poland in Hamburg on Sunday, they will be relieved to know that the Poles will be without their star striker, Robert Lewandowski, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
The Dutch team’s journey to the Euro 2024 finale in Berlin is not without its challenges, but Koeman and his players are determined to overcome the obstacles and prove their worth on the international stage.
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