NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Total Football is here.
The first World Cup match of a busy Saturday was a European clash between the Netherlands and Sweden, where the Oranje emerged victorious with a crushing and crushing 5-1 victory at Houston Stadium. This result puts them top of Group F, albeit temporarily until Japan faces Tunisia.
Ronald Koeman’s side put in a near-complete performance, winning with confidence and fluidity, and just like the Total Football glory days of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, they were full of attacking vigor, tenacious play and plenty of goals. When this team plays like this, they really increase their chances of doing something special at this World Cup. That’s not to say Sweden didn’t have their chances, because when the Netherlands lose the ball they sometimes make themselves vulnerable. But in the end, the Dutch deserved their impressive victory.
Before the tournament, in several shows and interviews, I talked about the Netherlands and their legitimate chance to win it all and, as early as November, I ranked them sixth in my top 10 power for the tournament. Koeman’s great work with this team has been evident for a while now and without anyone realizing it, this is a team that is slowly showing that maybe they can do something they have never done: win the World Cup.
There’s still a long way to go, but today the Netherlands showed why they are the real deal.
Here are my takeaways:
1. The Netherlands broadcasts Total Football
(Photo by Hugo Rivera/Jam Media/Getty Images)
In the 1970s, the philosophy of total football 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 pitch as wide as possible, collective pressing as well as changing formations mid-match, was a revelation that took the Dutch to the final of the 1974 World Cup, before ultimately losing to West Germany.
Koeman said that during this World Cup, the concept of “TF” is difficult due to weather conditions in different cities. But in this Houston stadium, completely enclosed and equipped with regulated air conditioning, the freedom to assert one’s identity was still just as present.
There were so many great 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 moved more centrally when the Dutch attacked. It was his cross that became Cody Gakpo’s assist. The midfielders of Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch were also magnificent, pulling the strings and protecting the center of the pitch.
The bench is also full of dynamic arsenal as Crysencio Summerville came on in the second half and scored his second goal of the tournament.
Throughout the match, the Netherlands constantly had 8 players inside the box, aiming to put pressure on Sweden and not allow them to leave their own half.
Today in Houston, the Netherlands reminded us why they invented the most influential and offensive philosophy in the world…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 modern-day question marks for the Netherlands – arguably the best team in international football to never win the World Cup – is that despite playing aesthetically pleasing football, they often struggle to find consistent quality from the start. Memphis Depay, the country’s top scorer, is now 32 and no longer the 90-minute threat he once was.
But with Brian Brobbey, they might just have the answer. His physicality, his ability to delay the game and be very direct when entering the box was so refreshing to see, as he reminds me so much of the classic old school No.9 who only has one thing on his mind: heading towards goal and scoring. A bit like Gerd Müller or Hristo Stoichkov.
Gakpo was also brilliant, causing absolute havoc on the left wing, where his timed runs, coupled with his finishing, were another weapon Sweden could find no answer against.
Both wore braces.
These two elements are the key to the success of the Netherlands.
3. Fully represented Premier League
(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
The quality and familiarity between the two teams was always going to be there as there were a total of 11 Dutch and Swedish starters who also play in the Premier League, including the Swedish attacking duo of Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, who took on his Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk, while Brobbey (Sunderland) took on Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, the Swedish captain. Sweden, of course, are managed by former Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham manager Graham Potter. On the bench, especially as Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga came on later in the match to score Sweden’s only goal of the day.
So the match felt a lot like a Premier League encounter, where both teams – particularly the Netherlands – wanted to do nothing but push forward and take the lead.
But for today, it was Koeman’s team who completely deserved the victory.
4. Hydration break continues to be a problem
(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
This was another match where the hydration break was booed, and if you’ve read my previous takeaways you know I’m vehemently against these breaks because this sport is all about rhythm and tempo and for that to happen you need 45 minutes of action. That’s how we’ve always known it, and I hope that after this World Cup, we’ll never see these “breaks” again.
But I also wrote in a previous column that, for this summer, they are not going anywhere, so managers could use it by readjusting their strategy. In the first half, Potter did just that as Sweden came out of the first break and improved, making more shots than the Netherlands before the break.
In the second half, while Sweden caused some more problems for the opposition thanks to Anthony Elanga, the break stopped the team’s momentum and Koeman took advantage by changing a few things for the Netherlands. This sport, however, has TWO HALVES. And fans paid good money to see non-stop action. They have every right to boo and complain about this rule which will hopefully never see the light of day again after this tournament.
4 ½. What’s next
The Netherlands faces Tunisia on Thursday in Kansas City in hopes of sealing the group, while Sweden plays a massive match against Japan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
