Page 64 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

EURO 2024
Spain dominated international men’s football between 2008 and 2012.
“KOEMAN’S CHANCES OF LEADING THE TEAM TO EURO 2024 LOOK TO BE ALREADY IN THE BALANCE AFTER JUST TWO GAMES PLAYED.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Germany qualify for the finals as hosts, meaning that the nation will be represented at a 14th consecutive EURO; Germany/West Germany have featured at every EURO since 1972. West Germany won the 1972 and 1980 editions, while the reunited Germany triumphed at EURO ‘96.
That leaves a total of 23 finals berths to be filled via the European Qualifiers which run from March to November 2023, and via play-offs scheduled for March 2024.
Louis van Gaal guided the Netherlands to the World Cup quarter- finals in 2022
matches, has been to revert back to a four-man defence. That move has upset the rhythm of how the defensive unit had previously worked, with a backline including Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake conceding four against France, and then repeat that leaky return in the Nations League semi-finals against Croatia.
Three further goals were conceded in the Nations League third place play-off loss to Italy, meaning Koeman’s first three games against serious opposition involved an average of 3.3 goals conceded per game. Furthermore, they were second best in each by a considerable margin.
The worrying start to Koeman’s second coming has sparked huge criticism among the Dutch football faithful with opinion still split over the KNVB’s original call to bring him back into the fold. Koeman’s return was not a surprise, but it was met with trepidation, as the governing body looked to secure a successor for van Gaal.
Returning coaches have been a common theme
for the Netherlands national side with van Gaal enjoying three stints in charge and Koeman, Dick Advocaat and Guus Hiddink taking charge twice each. The pattern has often been one of a bold reaction to a tournament exit, with a solid figure replacing a previous ‘wildcard’ appointment, or vice versa, depending on the mood music at the time
in Zeist.
Koeman was viewed as a slightly more adventurous upgrade from van Gaal, but the wily former Manchester United boss was working pragmatically with the tools available to him in Qatar, and Koeman’s communication and tactical decisions have left himself open to question.
An incredible playing CV has not nearly reached the same heights as a manager and Koeman’s chances of leading the team to Euro 2024 look
to be already in the balance after just two games played.
He consistently seems unclear over how to
set up his team in big games, as seen by their
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