Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman hopes his team can beat France in a European Championship qualifier on Friday, even though they have been hit hard by injuries.
“We hope to have a plan on Friday to make it very difficult for France and get a result,” he said at a press conference on Monday. Of course, we are aware that we don’t have the strongest team. But that means nothing in football. I see matches and results every week where you wonder how this could have happened.”
The Dutch lost influential midfielder Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and forwards Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay before naming their squad last Friday. Since then, goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Steven Berghuis and Teun Koopmeiners have also been injured.
“What is the reason for all these crimes? It’s purely timing related. Sometimes these are real football injuries, but I also see a lot of muscle injuries. France also has three sudden withdrawals,” said Koeman
“But it seems like nothing can be done about the schedule, which is incredibly busy. I try to discuss it every year at UEFA, but it seems to get crazier and crazier. Just look at the 2030 World Cup, with matches on three continents,” he added, referring to the tournament which will be organized in South America, Africa and Europe. With the departure of Flekken, the Dutch coach believes Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen