Dutch Disaster: Netherlands Forced to Cancel Press Conference Ahead of England Clash
The Netherlands’ preparations for their highly-anticipated Euro 2024 semi-final match against England have been dealt a major blow, with the team forced to cancel their pre-match press conference due to unforeseen travel issues.
With the Dutch squad set to take on the Three Lions at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday night, the news of their cancelled press conference is a major blow, giving England a significant advantage in the media build-up.
The reason for the cancellation lies in a blockage on the train track between Wolfsburg and Dortmund, leaving the Dutch team with no choice but to take a late flight to make the 155-mile journey to the stadium.
As it stands, the team are believed to be taking off at around 8:20 pm, which will see them arrive in Dortmund just a few hours before kick-off, a far cry from the usual relaxed morning routine the team would have liked to experience.
"We are currently looking for other options" the team stated, with the possibility of the press conference being held over Zoom a clear indication of the team’s frustration with the situation.
Meanwhile, Ronald Koeman has revealed that he will be sticking with Memphis Depay as his starting striker, despite the forward’s struggling form of late. The Dutch manager told Voetbal International, "He can do better, but that’s also due to others, that also has to do with how the team plays".
Koeman’s words hint at the importance of team dynamics, emphasizing that Depay’s performance is often tied to the overall flow of the game. Speaking about the 30-year-old’s potential starting role alongside Wout Weghorst, Koeman believes that the forward’s pace will be crucial in the match.
When asked if Depay would start alongside Weghorst, Koeman replied, "We were behind then, so you can expect to get the ball more often and that the opponent will fold back further. Then I can use Memphis as an attacking midfielder, because then you know that there will be crosses that Weghorst plays better than Memphis".
Koeman’s words paint a picture of a forward line that will look to provide width and pace, exploiting England’s potential weaknesses on the wings. However, it remains to be seen whether the Dutch team’s disjointed preparations will affect their performance on the pitch.
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