On Saturday, the German football national team will meet in their second group game of the Uefa Nations League in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (20.45 clock/live Ticker in the WORLD). The “Elftal” lost their first game against France in Paris in September, just under 1:2, but showed good approaches.
Despite two missed, you would be able to beat Germany, tournaments in the past few years, says Erik Meijer in the WORLD-the Interview. The former striker is Dutch, was in his career, among other things, Bayer Leverkusen, Hamburger SV and Liverpool FC have been active, and now works as a TV-expert.
the WORLD: Mr Meijer, as perceived because of the world Cup in the Netherlands, the Failure of the German team? There was not malice, although their selection was even?
Erik Meijer: I can say that we have since laughed a bit. The German national team to the world Cup, very sure of himself. But most of all we were surprised. It was thought in Holland that the German increase in tournament history, as always. But that was not the case. And I think that was mostly in the mind, and less a question of quality.
the WORLD: what is the perception of the upcoming match against Germany?
Meijer: We have the world champion of 2014 and 2018 in our Nations Cup group. Against France we played very neatly and we fought a good fight. But the fact is: The big goal is to be at the European Championships in 2024. I don’t want to look at a summer such as this year, where I was at a big tournament countries and think: “There ought to are actually the low countries.”
the WORLD: What can we expect on Saturday for a Dutch team? Where is the “Elftal”?
Meijer: she’s in a state of upheaval. With a new coach, Ronald Koeman, the new faces with little experience in the team has brought in. He relies on a mix of young talents in our own League and more experienced players who are active abroad. He tried to form a Team that occurs to the Foundation of cohesion. We, the Netherlands, were able to draw over the years to a pool of world-class players. Now we have very good players who might not be too big, there are at the Moment, but still. But we are on the right path, Ajax Amsterdam, shown a week ago in the Champions League, with the appearance of the FC Bayern Munich (1:1, d. Red). That was the best form of advertising.
the WORLD: That is to say, the Ajax-school is slowly coming back to old glory?
Meijer: Yes, there is a good Generation of young players at Ajax, but also at PSV Eindhoven. This would benefit everyone.
the WORLD: Between Louis van Gaal, the third with the Netherlands in 2014 world Cup, and Ronald Koeman are several trainers as a “bond coach” failed: Guus Hiddink, Danny Blind, Fred Grim, Dick Advocaat. Koeman is the right man for the Post? What is the largest construction site in order to the he must take care of now?
Meijer: We need to learn that winning in sports is everything. We had under van Gaal at the 2014 world Cup under Bert van Marwijk in 2010. In the last few years, this unlimited will to win was no longer so pronounced. Hiddink thought, with our quality, we will rock the already Blind, it was similar – but the older players were no longer as good as before, and from below much quality not to.
the WORLD: Joachim Löw continued to the beginning of the Nations League, especially on a stable Defensive, now want to come against the Netherlands, the German Offensive again. How to go to Ronald Koeman play?
Meijer: He is responsible for ensuring that it is defended only once. However – and this I think is good – he fits the System, what players he has available. Lately, Holland has mostly played with four people in the Offensive, while the nominal defenders should also focus on the Defensive. Otherwise, we play naturally, as it brings the typical Dutch education: with a lot of technique, good passing game, we can. In the two battles, we are not against the Strongest of defences-in-chief Virgil van Dijk (FC Liverpool, d. Red.) apart. In the midfield, our players weigh-in is usually only 70 or 75 pounds, because you have to combine. Fight, we can’t.
the WORLD: At his club stations Koeman had the reputation of a discipline fanatic. Sadio Mané, for example, is now one of Jürgen Klopp’s Based in Liverpool, was in Southampton once regularly problems with Koeman, who was not Leaded attitude agree. You have said a few years ago that many young players want to be in the Netherlands prefer to be a pop star as a good footballer. Takes Koeman as in the “Elftal”.
Meijer: He has a very clear line, and that is what we need. Earlier, the other have learned a lot from our Dutch soccer school, now we have to learn from the others. We were too arrogant, thought we had overslept invented the football but that the game is faster and stronger. Koeman is strict, but at the same time, he also knows that players like Memphis Depay are in need of on the place also a little bit of space to work.
the WORLD: On which players to look for in the Netherlands?
Meijer: Van Dijk, of course, in the back, the front, Depay and Ryan Babel vertebrae. The are actually thus the cornerstone, and also the players have more international experience. Our talents need to collect, but because, for example, Steven Bergwijn of Eindhoven. PSV plays under coach Mark van Bommel is very good, has won all of the games in the League this season, in the Champions League it was not enough, however, against Barcelona (0:4, the editorial team) and against Inter Milan (1:2, the editor).
the WORLD: The 19-year-old Central defender Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax was traded in the summer for a short time at FC Bayern. So a Transfer in the future would be to imagine?
Meijer: Yes. Bayern had to play with and tall, but at the same time, quick interior defender with a good pass. The de Ligt everything with. He would be as 1:1 fit.
the WORLD: How much of the “Elftal”, the currently at Bayern active Dutchman, Arjen Robben, who finished his career in the national team a year ago, missing?
Meijer: It’s a huge difference, if Quincy plays Promes outside or fur seals, with all the quality of Promes. Arjen Robben is world-class. Him you can’t replace, because seals only once. Unfortunately.
the WORLD: How is the game on Saturday?
Meijer: I assume that we can win against Germany. If we can make France’s problems, why not the Germans?
