Koeman says it is irrelevant if Netherlands win with a big scoreline or not. Memphis Depay not to feature in startling line up
At a press conference held the day before the match against Malta, coach Ronald Koeman and midfielder Frenkie de Jong spoke to the media about their expectations for Thursday evening’s encounter.
Ronald Koeman confirmed that forward Memphis Depay will not start tomorrow’s game against Malta. Depay lost his passport while travelling from Brazil to the Netherlands, and as a result, instead of joining the rest of the squad last Monday, he only joined yesterday. Koeman said that Depay has not been in top condition in recent weeks and has missed two training sessions, so he will start the game on the substitutes’ bench.
Koeman confirmed that the 23 players at his disposal are all in good condition and that he hopes to take all three points from the match to ensure they remain top of Group G. One of the forwards Koeman was planning to rely on, Mexx Meerdink, was injured during training sessions with the Dutch team and did not travel to Malta. Koeman did not reveal who will start in attack for the Netherlands, even when asked about Donyell Malen, who has scored far more goals for his country coming off the bench than when starting matches.
Asked by Dutch journalists whether the team had set a target number of goals for tomorrow’s game, Koeman replied that the number of goals scored is not important — what matters is getting the three points.
Speaking about the Maltese team, Koeman said that from what he saw in the Netherlands, the Maltese tried to play football, but they were often caught on the transition, which is why they conceded so many goals. He added that tomorrow’s game could be different if Malta choose to play defensively.
Ronald Koeman was part of the Dutch squad that played against Malta in Ta’ Qali on 19 December 1990, when he scored twice from the penalty spot in an 8–0 win. The Dutch coach said that while that was a fond memory, it belongs to the past — now he must focus on the future and what lies ahead for the Netherlands.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong said he hopes to add to his tally of goals for the national team tomorrow, as he has scored only two goals since making his debut in 2018.
Tonight’s match between Malta and the Netherlands will kick off at 20:45 at the National Stadium and will be broadcast live on TVMSport+ and TVM+.
