Ronald Koeman is hoping his side can play well in both attack and defense when they face Romania on Tuesday. In their bid to secure a place in the last eight of Football Euro 2024.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman is hoping for better football in both attack. And defence when he faces Romania in the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Tuesday. After the disappointment of a 3-2 defeat to Austria in their final group game.
Koeman said :
‘We are a proud nation, we like to win and play good football. And We know it doesn’t always work out. But we take Romania seriously. We know what we can expect and we need to improve compared to the last game and that’s what we want to do.’UFABET
‘You make your team more solid by not losing space and pressing better. That’s what we’re focusing on. In the match against Austria we weren’t organised, that gave them confidence, while the opposite happened with us,’
The Dutch boss also said of Tuesday’s opponents Romania: ‘I expect them to be really aggressive, they are physically strong in defence and dangerous from corners and free kicks.’
Koeman also spoke about the 3-2 defeat to Austria in their final group game: ‘It’s disappointing, especially in the first half. Our way of playing was not aggressive enough, so we focused on that and the players reacted in training. The next step is to show it in the match tomorrow. ‘
Asked if he expects the Netherlands to have most of the possession tomorrow, Koeman said: ‘Maybe, but that depends on how well we have the ball and how well we can push Romania back. They play a compact style, we usually have more of the ball than them, but that can be dangerous as well because they wait for us to give up possession and then they can hurt us. So we have to be good in all parts of our game.’
Koeman also addressed the idea that the Netherlands are favourites, saying: ‘It doesn’t matter, everything is talked about off the pitch. We have a lot of focus on Romania and we know we have to be better than the last game. It always starts with yourself.’