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Euro 2012 Comment: Netherlands Coach Bert Van Marwijk Has Tactical Decision To Make
The absence of attackers Dirk Kuyt, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie shouldn't be too much of a problem for Netherlands, as head coach Bert van Marwijk has some interesting alternatives.
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Sep 7, 2010 12:00:00 PM
By Stefan Coerts
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk won't be too happy with the developments on the injury front in the past couple of weeks. The successful coach will not only have to make do without long term injury absentee Arjen Robben when Oranje take on Finland on Tuesday evening, but Robin van Persie and Dirk Kuyt are unavailable too. Van Persie picked up an ankle injury with Arsenal about a week ago, while Kuyt sustained a shoulder injury during a training with Holland on Monday.
The absence of Robben and Van Persie didn't stop the Dutch from recording a comfortable 5-0 win against San Marino on Friday, but there's little doubt about it that Finland are of a different calibre. Therefore, Van Marwijk will be pretty displeased that Kuyt is now unavailable as well. The latest injury blow means that all three attackers who started in the lost 2010 World Cup final against Spain are sidelined due to injury.
Robben, Van Persie and Kuyt have all played an important role in Netherlands' superb results since Euro 2008 and many coaches would be pretty desperate if they were deprived of players of the class of the aforementioned trio. However, Van Marwijk has the luxury of having a number of outstanding alternatives in his squad to deal with Oranje's injury worries. Players such as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Eljero Elia and Ibrahim Afellay are all more than capable replacements for the injured trio.
Therefore, deciding which players should start against the Scandinavians will probably not be the biggest problem for Van Marwijk. The Dutch coach is more likely to struggle to decide what formation he should use. He could decide to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, but starting in a 4-4-2 formation looks like a very attractive alternative in the current situation.
Van Marwijk's known as a bit of a conservative coach who isn't very much likely to make any changes if it isn't absolutely necessary. Therefore, Oranje are still most likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation. There's little doubt about it that Huntelaar will be Holland's starting striker following his hattrick against San Marino on Friday. However, there are several options as to how to fill in the winger slots.
Hamburg star Eljero Elia appears to be sitting in pole position to get the nod on the left wing. The highly rated winger impressed during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and also started against San Marino. New Tottenham Hotspur signing Rafael van der Vaart is also an option onthe left wing though, while PSV captain Ibrahim Afellay has played left wing for Netherlands in the past as well. Elia is the only natural born winger of the aforementioned trio and is therefore expected to start on Tuesday.
On the right wing, Van Marwijk doesn't have as many choices as on the left. The Dutch coach is likely to make a choice between two PSV players. The versatile Afellay has shown in the past that he has plenty to offer coming from the right, while Jeremain Lens is a more than decent alternative. Lens might lack the experience of wearing the Oranje jersey in an official game, but he illustrated in the friendly against Ukraine that his pace and trickery is a weapon against any opponent. Nevertheless, with Elia on the left, Van Marwijk is expected to go with Afellay on the right in order to add something different to the Dutch attack.
Finally, even though very un-Dutch, Van Marwijk could also decide to start in a 4-4-2 formation. Holland has two of the most prolific hitmen around in Europe in its squad with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar and it certainly seems tempting to give the duo a chance up front. Wesley Sneijder could play in the attacking midfielder position, with Van der Vaart or Afellay playing as a second creative midfielder next to holding midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel.
The disadvantage of a 4-4-2 formation is that Oranje won't have much to offer from the wings, something that could prove to be a problem against a defensive team like Finland. The centre of the pitch is likely to be extremely crowded and the best solution to create chances is attack down the flanks. Therefore, a 4-2-3-1 formation with Elia and Afellay on the wings seems like the best solution.
No matter what decision Van Marwijk makes though, plenty of coaches will be jealous about the array of attacking options the Dutch coach has at his availability.
The absence of Robben and Van Persie didn't stop the Dutch from recording a comfortable 5-0 win against San Marino on Friday, but there's little doubt about it that Finland are of a different calibre. Therefore, Van Marwijk will be pretty displeased that Kuyt is now unavailable as well. The latest injury blow means that all three attackers who started in the lost 2010 World Cup final against Spain are sidelined due to injury.
Robben, Van Persie and Kuyt have all played an important role in Netherlands' superb results since Euro 2008 and many coaches would be pretty desperate if they were deprived of players of the class of the aforementioned trio. However, Van Marwijk has the luxury of having a number of outstanding alternatives in his squad to deal with Oranje's injury worries. Players such as Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Eljero Elia and Ibrahim Afellay are all more than capable replacements for the injured trio.
Therefore, deciding which players should start against the Scandinavians will probably not be the biggest problem for Van Marwijk. The Dutch coach is more likely to struggle to decide what formation he should use. He could decide to stick with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, but starting in a 4-4-2 formation looks like a very attractive alternative in the current situation.
Ruud van Nistelrooy | ready to shine against Finland
Van Marwijk's known as a bit of a conservative coach who isn't very much likely to make any changes if it isn't absolutely necessary. Therefore, Oranje are still most likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation. There's little doubt about it that Huntelaar will be Holland's starting striker following his hattrick against San Marino on Friday. However, there are several options as to how to fill in the winger slots.
Hamburg star Eljero Elia appears to be sitting in pole position to get the nod on the left wing. The highly rated winger impressed during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and also started against San Marino. New Tottenham Hotspur signing Rafael van der Vaart is also an option onthe left wing though, while PSV captain Ibrahim Afellay has played left wing for Netherlands in the past as well. Elia is the only natural born winger of the aforementioned trio and is therefore expected to start on Tuesday.
On the right wing, Van Marwijk doesn't have as many choices as on the left. The Dutch coach is likely to make a choice between two PSV players. The versatile Afellay has shown in the past that he has plenty to offer coming from the right, while Jeremain Lens is a more than decent alternative. Lens might lack the experience of wearing the Oranje jersey in an official game, but he illustrated in the friendly against Ukraine that his pace and trickery is a weapon against any opponent. Nevertheless, with Elia on the left, Van Marwijk is expected to go with Afellay on the right in order to add something different to the Dutch attack.
Finally, even though very un-Dutch, Van Marwijk could also decide to start in a 4-4-2 formation. Holland has two of the most prolific hitmen around in Europe in its squad with Ruud van Nistelrooy and Huntelaar and it certainly seems tempting to give the duo a chance up front. Wesley Sneijder could play in the attacking midfielder position, with Van der Vaart or Afellay playing as a second creative midfielder next to holding midfielders Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel.
The disadvantage of a 4-4-2 formation is that Oranje won't have much to offer from the wings, something that could prove to be a problem against a defensive team like Finland. The centre of the pitch is likely to be extremely crowded and the best solution to create chances is attack down the flanks. Therefore, a 4-2-3-1 formation with Elia and Afellay on the wings seems like the best solution.
No matter what decision Van Marwijk makes though, plenty of coaches will be jealous about the array of attacking options the Dutch coach has at his availability.
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