ROTTERDAM • Memphis Depay might be battling for both game time and goals at club level, but his headline performance for his country at the start of the Euro 2022 qualifiers on Thursday has won him the full backing of Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.
"A wonderful player. You saw what he is capable of, even if he is playing less at his club," the Dutch coach said, after the Lyon striker scored twice and made the other two goals in a comfortable 4-0 Group C win over Belarus.
"Memphis is very important pillar for us and he showed that," added Koeman, making clear the 25-year-old would be a starter when the Dutch host Germany in their next qualifier tomorrow.
"The ideal is to have a settled starting line-up to be able to work with. You see that with (world champions) France, how infrequently they change their team."
For Depay, the night could have gone a little better even after setting up Liverpool duo Georginio Wijnaldum and Virgil van Dijk for the other two goals.
"If you score twice, you always want a third," he said of missing out on a hat-trick in Rotterdam.
12
Goals the Netherlands have scored in their last five games.
"But I'll save that for later," he added, with a wink to Dutch television station NOS.
Depay scored in the first minute as the visitors made an early defensive error to get the Dutch campaign off to a perfect start.
The Netherlands had missed out on the last European Championship in France and also last year's World Cup in Russia and are rebuilding under Koeman.
"It was a great start and, if you begin like that, it makes the rest of the evening easier," Depay added.
"We said that to each other before we went out that we wanted to push hard for a goal in the opening 10 minutes.
"But you've also got to have a little luck."
Depay has scored six Ligue 1 goals this season in comparison to 19 in the last campaign as his form has dipped in the French league.
He has also not played in the last two league matches.
"I don't think I need to say anything about that now," he said, when asked about his situation at his club.
"Here I am enjoying being home with my teammates and getting the confidence of the coach. We have a good squad and a good coaching staff.
"We've got to ensure we stick together as a team and that everyone buys into our ambitions."
Koeman's exciting young side are now top of Group C and level on three points with Northern Ireland, ahead of tomorrow's clash with Germany - whom they knocked out of the Nations League the last time they met in November.
The Dutch have been a revelation since Koeman took charge in the wake of their failure to qualify for the World Cup.
They beat both Germany and world champions France to win their Nations League group and set up a semi-final clash with England in June.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Speed is key for Socceroos. Australia's Tom Rogic has been tipped by national coach Graham Arnold to be one of the stars of the Asian Cup for the defending champions. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE.
Sport: Boyle was a key for Socceroos: Arnold - PressFrom
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has said the club will trigger an extension clause in Toby Alderweireld's contract. The Belgium defender will now be contracted to Spurs until the summer of 2020, having been due to be a free agent at the end of the season. However, by taking up the year's
Spurs to trigger Alderweireld contract extension, says
England captain Harry Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker Harry Kane is a fan of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was at the Super Bowl this year, watching from the stands as the
England captain Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker
Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday. The hosts, looking for a second successive
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
sportstons.com/soccer/football-fulham-dig-deep-to-deny-newcastle-and-earn-first-clean-sheet/
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet LONDON (REUTERS) - Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday (Dec 22).
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of his career. The light aircraft carrying the Argentine disappeared over the English Channel a week ago as the 28-year-old flew to Cardiff from
Soccer: Warnock says Sala tragedy is most difficult week of
Guardiola sorry to have derailed Pellegrini's final days at City AFP Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists he has faith in VAR after a controversial night in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola sorry for derailing Manuel Pellegrini's
Man Utd's 6-1 loss to Man City is my 'worst ever day' - Sir Alex Ferguson. 24 Oct 2011; The warning signs have been there for Manchester United in home games against Chelsea, Basle and even
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 16, 2019, with the headline 'Klopp hails Salah as he targets 97-point total'. Print Edition | Subscribe Topics:
Klopp hails Salah as he targets 97-point total
Qatar´s players celebrate their victory during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final football match between Japan and Qatar at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on February 1, 2019.
'We move on' - Japan's Maya Yoshida defiant after Asian Cup
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive Marco Silva's side moved into eighth place on the Premier League leaderboard, one point behind seventh-place Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Football: Rafael Benítez fumes as Wolves deny Newcastle with another stoppage-time equaliser LONDON (THE GUARDIAN) - Rafael Benítez must hate it when the fourth official holds up the board for added time against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Rafael Benítez fumes after Wolves deny Newcastle with
Benitez fumes says Prem 'don't understand the rules' after Wolves' dubious equaliser The Toon boss was furious Wolves' late leveller was not ruled out for a foul on Martin Dubravka to deny
How the media comes daily to the rescue of the referees
Guardiola sorry City awarded 'offside' goal LONDON • Pep Guardiola was apologetic after Manchester City were given a helping hand on their way to a 3-1 home victory over Watford, but insisted his side were deserving of the win that ensured they remained top of the Premier League table.
Pep Guardiola: I am sorry for Manchester City's 'offside
West Ham 0-2 Watford: Troy Deeney silences home fans from the penalty spot before Gerard Deulofeu secures three points late on for the Hornets So there was no fifth win in a row for Pellegrini
City will pounce if Liverpool slip up: Guardiola, Football
0 comments:
Post a Comment