Page 66 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

EURO 2024
66 SOCCER360 MAGAZINE
Above:
Spain beat Croatia in
a penalty shootout to win the 2022-23 UEFA Nations League
Left:
Fabian Ruiz (L) of Spain and Luka Modric
of Croatia in action during the UEFA Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain
box seat for second place ahead of the September games with Gustavo Poyet’s team also guaranteed a Nations League inspired play-off place. They showed the extra gear they needed to beat Ireland
in June and only lost out to an Mbappe penalty in a 1-0 defeat against France. Meanwhile, Poyet is shrewd operator in international football, and they will not be overawed about a trip to face Koeman in Eindhoven.
The result of that game will have a key bearing on Koeman’s trip to Dublin a few days later with Stephen Kenny’s charges showing their best self when playing the underdog role. The Irish mirrored Greece in only losing 1-0 to France, whereas Koeman’s disjointed team were pulled apart by the 2018 world champions,
and Kenny’s job could be dependent on how he emerges from the September matches, a situation which Koeman can sympathise with. The main issue with Koeman’s forthcoming task is as cliched as ever with the Dutch national team, as a talented squad are struggling under
a coach who is stuck between systems and ideals. Koeman is far from a wild theorist with outlandish tactics on how
to structure and inspire his team, but he looks too pre-occupied with dismantling van Gaal’s set up, to put his own firm stamp on the squad.
The result has seen all sides lose out so far, with the balance completely off, as in terms of personnel, van Gaal’s team were not devoid of attacking panache and did not need to undergo major surgery on the back superb showings in Qatar from Gakpo and de Jong.
The sheer talent in the ranks could dig Koeman out of the hole in the months ahead, but it would again be a short- term fix, with Greece and the Republic
of Ireland both ready to play their cards in the group, and the Dutch lacking in almost every area in 2023.
If the theme continues, and Koeman is edged out by either Poyet or Kenny, it could be a long winter ahead, with the prospect of a spring play-off showdown, and a demanding task against another team from the top tier of the Nations League. Even if they do indeed qualify for Euro 2024, at present it is hard to see the Netherlands being listed as one of the favourites for the tournament itself.