The Flying Dutchman is sailing through Europe’s water, seeking to break the curse
Legend has it that Dutch captain Hendrick van der Decken sailed from Amsterdam to the far East indies searching for spices, silks and dyes to sell back in Holland. On his return trip, his ship faced a storm when rounding the the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The captain so entitled to round the cape, cursed God vowing to round that cape even if it took him till Judgement Day. As a result, the ship and its crew were cursed. Condemned to sail the seas for eternity bringing death to all who sight the ship, but never making port or knowing a moment of peace.
Thus stems the legend of the Flying Dutchman, cursed to eternally sail the seas never reaching the promise land. Cursed to eternally entertain the audience with its beautiful football, never winning the title. Only once that the ship have reached port. In 1988 when Marco van Basten volleyed the ball spectacularly over Rinat Dasayev to double Holland’s lead, and give them their only title till present day. The Dutchman has been sailing since, changing its captain year after year searching for the one who’ll break the curse.
Three World Cup runners up medals epitomizes the curse. The only team to reach the final more than twice, yet fail to win it. Add to that, a third place finish in 2014, a fourth place finish in 1998, and four semi-finals in the European championship. Their only glowing moment came in 1988 when they beat the Soviet Union to be crowned European champions.
A graph of crests and troughs resembled Holland’s performances so far, but it had reached its lowest when the national team failed to qualify for Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. Placing 4th in a group which contained Czech Republic, Iceland,Turkey, Latvia and Kazakhstan in the Euro 2016 qualifiers. Then failing to qualify for the second round in the World Cup qualifiers as Sweden booked their spot, nicking second place on goal difference. The nightmare didn’t stop as Arjen Robben — Holland’s best player in recent times — announced his international retirement after the Sweden game. The changing of the guards continued as Dick Advocaat stepped down stating that it’s a time for the younger generation.
Ronald Koeman took charge of the national team and with the last piece of the old chess board being replaced as Wesley Sneijder announced his international retirement, it was now time for the new generation. Koeman gave debuts to the rising superstar Frenkie de Jong, Denzel Dumfries, and Steven Bergwijn. Not just debuting, but playing a prominent part in his starting eleven. Moreover, Koeman recalled Marten de Roon into his starting line up after impressive performances with Atalanta.
Koeman also needed some of his not so old guard, the likes of Virgil Van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum who are both monumental figures for Liverpool this season, and Memphis Depay whose extraordinary goal tally helped Lyon clinch third place in Ligue 1. The newly brushed ship has a new crew and a new captain, but it still holds the same principles of total football.
Central to the voyage was freshly appointed sailing master, Frenkie de Jong. The young Ajax player was handed his debut against Peru last September, but began his main role in the game against France. The Dutch youngster who orchestrates the play is showing great talent in terms of building up the attack by always positioning himself as a passing option for Van Dijk, de Light, and Cillessen. Furthermore, he takes matters into his own hands in when it comes to ball progression if there’s no available passing option. It’s risky for a defensive midfielder to dribble through midfield, but when succeeding he is essentially a free man searching for the perfect pass to one of his gunners. Marten de Roon provides the safe card next to Frenkie de Jong, but the youngster’s dribbles have rarely been intercepted in the few games he has played for the national team. Add to that his calmness under pressure, accurate passing and great vision and you got yourself the mould of a deep lying play-maker. Or as captain van der Decken would say, the sailing master.
Holland started their European sail in a 4–3–3 system against France, but despite an impressive second half, Olivier Giroud managed to win it for the French team. Koeman decided to tweak the system, and switch to a 4–2–3–1 in his next encounters in the Uefa Nations League. The system seems regular, but it’s the movements of the players that makes it hard to play against. Wijnaldum who is supposedly the number ten is always searching for space to occupy. Whether on the wings to combine with full backs, in midfield to offer a good passing option for Frenkie de Jong, or to attack the space vacated by Depay’s movements. Wijnaldum’s goals against Germany and France illustrates the above. His midfield run against Germany saw him bypass Jerome Boateng then slam it into the net, all after Depay’s dummy leaving it to fall into Wijnaldum’s path. The other goal against France was a follow up to Ryan Babel’s shot.
Wijnaldum’s partner in crime is Memphis Depay. The forward who plays upfront has a different role than what his position suggests. Depay drops into the channels and between the lines to offer the creativity needed from midfield, stuff that a number ten would do. Depay is the creator here, and Wijnaldum is the onrushing midfielder searching for the goal with cameo appearances form Babel in the box. Depay’s movement to the right channel resulted in Holland’s equalizer in the game at the Stade de France. He combined with Kenny Tete, who then crossed it for Babel who was occupying the space vacated by Depay. Depay’s brilliant performances in this false nine position were also complemented by his two goals against Germany and France. Increasing his tally to 23 goals and 18 assists in 52 games for club and country in 2018.
The goal against Germany showed a recurring theme in Holland’s counter attacks, a higher technical quality in terms of passing. Pace is the most important aspect when transitioning from defence to attack, but how would you be in a position to use the pace without the pass beforehand. Marten de Roon’s pass to Quincy Promes took out four German players before Promes slid it to Depay.
Holland’s new generation have taken group A1 by storm, and they only need a draw when they travel to Gelsenkirchen to face an unstable German side. A minimum of one point would mean that they will top their group and follow England, Portugal and Switzerland into the Uefa Nations League semi-finals. Captain Ronald Koeman is on a mission to reach land and finally break the Dutchman’s curse.
