World Cup hopefuls Netherlands target title charge with Cruyff's philosophy

[p]The Dutch have been runners-up three ‌times, most recently in 2010, and at the last finals in Qatar in 2022 were eliminated in the ‌quarter-finals on penalties by eventual winners Argentina.[/p][p]This time they have set themselves the ‌minimum goal of a semi-final place.[/p][p][b]“If that could happen, everyone would be happy to sign up ‌for it,” [/b]said former Netherlands international [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-jong-nigel/ppMXeAcc/"]Nigel de Jong[/a], now technical director at ‌the country's FA, in an interview with the Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad last month.[/p][p]But coach [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/koeman-ronald/vHeYAvb2/"]Ronald Koeman[/a] has already made clear his ambition. [b]"Our goal is to win the World Cup,"[/b] he said during the ‌March international window.[/p][p]Whether Koeman has the necessary tools to ⁠deliver remains to be seen.[/p][embed guid="2049c4b8-51bb-4dea-b30e-0272c3f679f9" url="https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/2060840094689378405?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Dutch will ‌rely heavily on midfield playmaker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-jong-frenkie/A1F3rz9c/"]Frenkie de Jong[/a], whose injury woes at Barcelona have continued this ​season, and still see [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/depay-memphis/zo1h8MrD/"]Memphis Depay[/a] as their lead striker, even if his club career has been rapidly stalling at Corinthians in Brazil. Though Roma's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/malen-donyell/KOdKXsao/"]Donyell Malen[/a] has made a case for himself after a strong second half of the 2025-26 season.[/p][h2]Doubt about star players[/h2][p]There are also doubts about the form of other key players such as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/reijnders-tijani/f17EnPl3/"]Tijjani Reijnders[/a], who had a promising start to the season after signing for Manchester ⁠City but is no longer ​a regular, and captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-dijk-virgil/U59RNqOr/"]Virgil van Dijk[/a], whose dip in form was reflected in a disappointing campaign with Liverpool.[/p][p]Injury has ruled out Tottenham Hotspur midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/simons-xavi/noo0L9zk/"]Xavi Simons[/a] and there are doubts over the fitness of defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a], whose groin injury curtailed his season at ‌Arsenal, but played an hour in the UEFA Champions League final.[/p][p]Koeman feels, however, that he has a core of players who have been together for several years and this could be a key factor in their favour.[/p][p][b]“We have such a good feeling within the squad right now that I think we can get everything out of this tournament,”[/b] he said.[/p][image alt="Jurrien Timber (L) during Arsenal's Premier League title celebrations" id="6fea04f4-7fc9-4961-a72b-6068cb338fcb" credit-line="Photo by TOBY SHEPHEARD / AFP" guid="499a936c-2f5f-482b-8146-109f392f96ec" original-width="3412" original-height="2275" /][p]The Dutch qualified comfortably enough at the top of their group, three points ahead of Poland and unbeaten.[/p][p]Their World Cup begins in Group F with a game against Japan on June 14 in Dallas, followed by Sweden in Houston and Tunisia in Kansas City, where they will be based during the ‌tournament.[/p][p]Critics have accused Koeman of being too predictable in his tactical approach. But the coach ​has adapted his formations when necessary in recent years, upsetting the purists who ‌insist on the traditional 'Hollandse school of football'.[/p][p]That put the emphasis on dominant, attacking football in a 4-3-3 formation that their great player and coach, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cruyff-johan/8xBXNTsA/"]Johan Cruyff[/a], perfected and that most Dutch coaches slavishly follow.[/p][p][b]“I’ve always admired Cruyff for his vision of the game and his desire to play attractive football, but I was a ⁠defender; I had to solve problems, and ⁠that influenced my ideas,” [/b]said Koeman, ‌who must be flexible to achieve his target.[/p]