NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Total Football is here.
The first World Cup match on a busy Saturday was a European clash between the Netherlands and Sweden, where the The Oranje emerged victorious with a resounding and overwhelming 5-1 victory at Houston Stadium. The result puts them at the top of Group F, albeit temporarily until Japan faces Tunisia.
Ronald Koeman’s team put in an almost complete performance, winning with confidence and fluidity, and just like the Total Football glory days of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, it was full of attacking vigor, tenacious play and plenty of goals. When this team plays like that, it really increases their chances of doing something special in this World Cup. That’s not to say that Sweden didn’t have its chances, as when Holland loses the ball it sometimes leaves them vulnerable. But in the end the Dutch team deserved their impressive victory.
Before the tournament, in various programs and interviews, I talked about Holland and their legitimate chance to win it all and, already in November, I placed them sixth in my top 10 power rankings for the tournament. Koeman’s great work with this team has been evident for some time and without anyone realizing it, this is a team that little by little is showing that perhaps it can do something it has never done: win the World Cup.
There is still a long way to go, but today Holland showed why it is the real deal.
Here are my conclusions:
1. Netherlands Total Football Channels
(Photo by Hugo Rivera/Jam Media/Getty Images)
In the 1970s, the Total Football philosophy created an identity for the Netherlands that essentially became a gift to the world. The concept of fluid positioning, stretching the opponent by making the field as wide as possible, collectively pressing and changing formations mid-game, was a revelation that took the Dutch to the 1974 World Cup final, before finally losing to West Germany.
Koeman has stated that in this World Cup the concept of “TF” It is difficult due to weather conditions in different cities. But in this stadium in Houston, where it is completely enclosed and has regulated air conditioning, the freedom to enforce your identity was very present.
There were so many fantastic examples of players occupying various spaces and becoming so threatening when entering the box. Denzel Dumfries, for example, was everywhere on the right wing and even became more central when the Dutch attacked. It was his cross that became the assist for Cody Gakpo. The midfield of Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch was also superb, pulling the strings and protecting the midfield.
The bench is also filled with a dynamic arsenal, as Crysencio Summerville arrived in the second half and scored his second goal of the tournament.
Throughout the match, Holland constantly had 8 players inside the area, with the aim of putting pressure on Sweden and not allowing them to leave their own half.
Today in Houston, the Netherlands reminded us why they invented the world’s most influential and attacking philosophy… and why it might finally pay off for them.
2. Brobbey and Gakpo were brilliant
(Photo by Stefan Koops/EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
One of the biggest question marks in modern times for the Netherlands – arguably the best team in international football to have never won the World Cup – is that, despite aesthetically pleasing football, they often struggle to find consistent quality from the start. Memphis Depay, the country’s leading scorer, is now 32 years old and no longer the 90-minute threat he once was.
But in Brian Brobbey, they may have the answer. It was very refreshing to see his physicality, his ability to hold up the game and be very direct when entering the area, as he reminds me a lot of the classic old school number 9 who only has one thing on his mind: head towards the goal and score. Very similar to Gerd Müller or Hristo Stoichkov.
Gakpo was also brilliant, wreaking absolute havoc on the left flank, where his timed runs, along with his finishing, were another weapon where Sweden could find no answers.
They both received braces.
Both are key to Holland’s success.
3. Premier League fully represented
(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The quality and familiarity between both teams was always there, as there were a total of 11 Dutch and Swedish starters also playing in the Premier League, including the Swedish attacking duo of Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, who faced off against Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk, while the aforementioned Brobbey (Sunderland) faced off against Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, Sweden’s captain. Sweden, of course, managed by former Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham manager Graham Potter. On the bench, even more so when Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga came on later in the match to score Sweden’s only goal of the day.
Therefore, the match felt very much like a Premier League match, where both teams (especially Holland) wanted to do nothing more than push forward and take the lead.
But for today, it was Koeman’s team that took the victory completely.
4. The hydration break is still a problem
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
It was another match where the hydration break was met with boos, and if you’ve read my previous takeaways, you’re more than aware that I’m vehemently against these breaks because this sport is about pace and tempo and for that to happen, 45 minutes of action is required. We have always known this and I hope that after this World Cup we will not see these “pauses” again.
But I also wrote in a previous column that, for this summer, they are not going anywhere, so managers might as well take advantage of them and readjust their strategy. In the first half, Potter did exactly that as Sweden came out of the first break and improved, taking more shots than Holland before the break.
In the second half, when Sweden caused some more problems for the opponent thanks to Anthony Elanga, the break slowed the team’s momentum and Koeman took the opportunity to change some things for the Netherlands. This sport, however, is about TWO HALVES. And fans have paid a lot of money to see non-stop action. They have every right to boo and complain about this rule, which hopefully will not see the light of day again after this tournament.
4 ½. What’s next?
The Netherlands will face Tunisia on Thursday in Kansas City hoping to close out the group, while Sweden has a big game against Japan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
