Holland - Group C

        The Dutch are finally back at a major tournament following a seven-year hiatus, technically six considering Euro 2020’s one year postponement. Holland failed to kick on from the third-place finish orchestrated by Louis Van Gaal at Brazil’s 2014 World Cup. Nigel De Jong hung up his boots the following year whilst poster boys Robin Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder all approached their mid-thirties, twilight years for a pro athlete. Another golden generation for the Oranje was coming to an end, over the next couple of campaigns (Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup) Dutch football regressed. Since their most recent appearance at a major tournament four managers have led the national team with former Rangers defender Frank De Boer currently in the Dutch dugout. Thankfully for Holland supporters, optimism is high for the new generation. Ajax’s fairy-tale run to the Champions League semi-final three seasons ago rebooted the ‘sexy football’ mantra pioneered by the late great Johan Cruyff. A 19-year-old Matthijs De Ligt started the dramatic second leg against Spurs along-side Frenkie De Jong and Donny Van De Beek both 22 at the time. Since then, all three have been snapped up by some of Europe’s top clubs, Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester United respectively. A testament to Ajax’s outstanding production line of youth. Two more Dutch stars bolstered the national side’s damaged reputation during that same Champions League campaign. Georginio Wijnaldum netted twice against Barcelona in the other semi-final as Liverpool overcame the Catalonians 4-3 on aggregate. Whilst £75million signing Virgil Van Dijk marshalled the Scouse defence to a clean sheet in the all-English final. Following successive un-successful qualifying campaigns Holland’s tarnished image began restoration. Flair player Memphis Depay is on the brink of joining countryman Ronald Koeman at the Camp Nou in Barcelona whilst 6ft6inch Wouter Weghorst’s twenty Bundesliga strikes last year trailed only Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland and Andre Silva. Holland have an ideal blend of potential and experience in their ranks. Donyell Malen (22-years-old) and Cody Gakpo (also 22) have been included in the final 26-man squad and will absorb valuable experience from fellow wingers and Dutch veterans Steven Berghuis (29) and Quincy Promes (29). In midfield ex-Ajax stars Frenkie De Jong and Donny Van De Beek, and current prospect Ryan Gravenberch (18), are in safe hands under the guidance of Davy Klassen (previously of Everton and Werder Bremen) and Gini Wijnaldum. At the back, 19-year-old Jurrien Timber is fresh from a title winning season with Ajax in the Eredivisie and should progress with the leadership skills of Inter Milan’s Stefan De Vrij (29) and former Manchester United utility player Daley Blind (one of just five out-fielders remaining who collected bronze in 2014). Virgil Van Dijk won’t be suited and booted this summer but with all three of their group games at home (Amsterdam), the 2018/19 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year winner may be on board to assist De Boer and his country from the stands. We caught a glimpse of this from the former Celtic man during the 2-2 draw with Scotland in Faro last week.

Odds: 12/1 (Bet365, 8^th favourites)

Prediction: Group C is by no means a walk through for Frank De Boer. Even North Macedonia, who can be found at the tail end of the bookies Euros odds at 500/1 (alongside Finland), recently defeated Germany 2-1 during a World Cup qualifier in Duisburg as recently as March. Holland could top their group, but Ukraine and Austria will be stubborn sides to break down. Regardless of where they finish, I can’t see the Dutch progressing through the first knockout round. If they happen to top the group, Holland could encounter the third placed side from Group F, the group of death. Likely Portugal or Germany. Either of these sides should prove too tough for De Boer’s group. However, a second placed finish might offer just as difficult a tie, against Group A winners, Italy according to the bookmakers. Even if the Dutch end up third in their group, they will face the winners of Group F (France, Germany, Portugal, take your pick…) or Group E, expected to be Spain.

Tactics:

4-3-3:    De Boer may opt for this formation to bolster his attacking options. Pace either side of target man Wouter Weghorst, the 6ft6’ striker can hold up play and wait for runs through the channels from wide men Donyell Malen and Memphis Depay. This formation would restrict Dumfries from his attacking wing-back role, which may frustrate the PSV full back. However, this would allow more natural attackers to get involved, such as Malen, Depay and Weghorst up top and perhaps even Wijnaldum sneaking up from midfield from time to time. 4-3-3 does hinder Depay’s free roam, a role he thrives in at club level, and executed with considerable ease in the recent friendly with Scotland.

5-3-2:    It looks like this will be the battle plan for Holland this summer. De Boer has rolled out a 5-3-2 in both Dutch warm up matches for Euro 2020. This set-up does see De Boer drop a forward for another defensive player, Malen for Wijndal, but it somehow offers more fluidity in the side. Both full backs, Denzel Dumfries (right side) and Owen Wijndal (left side) love to advance down the wing and mimic the work of wingers, all whilst returning to their defensive, full back duties. With the full back pair charging up the wings, right and left sided centre backs Stefan De Vrij and Daley Blind can spread slightly wider, whilst Marten De Roon drops to create a diamond like four-man defence. De Roon’s strict defensive duties free up De Jong and Wijnaldum to assist in the attack. Wouter Weghorst is one of few in the side who sticks to his role, he plays the sturdy target man, whilst ex-Manchester United forward Memphis Depay floats slightly deeper of Weghorst in a free roam.