Breakthrough performances of youngsters have been a spotlight of this World Cup. From Spain’s Gavi, and Germany’s Jamal Musiala, to England’s Jude Bellingham.
For Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries – arguably Netherlands’ greatest participant this match – enjoying for the Oranje was nothing greater than a pipe dream as a youngster. Born to an Aruban father and Surinamese mom, his household moved to Rotterdam from Aruba previous to his delivery within the Dutch metropolis, the place he was named after Hollywood actor Denzel Washington.
Dumfries doesn’t boast of the form of technical potential that the promising youngsters of this match do, since he didn’t hone his skills in an elite soccer academy, as an alternative enjoying for native novice membership BVV Barendrecht till the age of 18, even getting a global name as much as Aruba, for whom he made one official look.
After an extended, unsure highway within the amateurs, Dutch second-tier staff Sparta Rotterdam took a punt on him. Dumfries developed bodily there, with pure energy and tempo changing into his strongest attributes, as he received promoted to the Eredivisie, joined PSV Eindhoven and rose the ranks to change into captain of one of many nation’s most profitable sides. His place in Dutch soccer, nonetheless, remained unsure till final yr’s Euros, the place he was the staff’s greatest participant.
Netherlands supervisor Louis van Gaal kisses defender Denzel Dumfries to indicate his appreciation 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/omTxzQBNDU
— Sky Sports activities Information (@SkySportsNews) December 3, 2022
Frank De Boer trusted his wing-backs to carry out, however Netherlands largely underperformed as they crashed out to Czech Republic within the spherical of 16, which led to Louis Van Gaal’s arrival. The famed Dutchman’s method has unlocked the easiest of the wing-back, who by no means actually performs wing-back.
Thriving in a novel system
There was criticism of the Netherlands’ type of play below Louis Van Gaal at this match. With a wealthy historical past of possession-based soccer, pioneering the Complete Soccer philosophy that continues to affect modern-day groups, they’ve gone for a extra affected person, conservative, and pragmatic method.
Van Gaal has carped on the criticism of that type, and revelled in its current effectiveness. The Netherlands have let go of possession, gone for fewer our bodies in midfield typically marking groups man-to-man to attempt to break them down and strike shortly on the counterattack. That plan was at its greatest towards USA within the spherical of 16, with the Dutch urgent Tyler Adams – their inventive outlet in midfield – out of the sport and preserving the huge areas tight the place USA wish to trigger overloads.
To take action, Van Gaal wants the fitting huge gamers and the fitting system, which is why Dumfries have been so essential for the staff. The Netherlands’ largest energy this yr has been their hybrid defensive plan that permits them to handle opponents in another way. There are patterns of play that see them in a large again three, a slender again 4, and even a large again 4 with Frenkie De Jong falling into defence.
On paper, they play a again 5 out of possession, however in possession it normally turns right into a again 4, with Daley Blind tucking in at left again and Jurrien Timber tucking in on the fitting – explaining his inclusion over Matthijs De Ligt, a much more completed conventional centre-back however not as efficient on the fitting.
In impact, this permits Dumfries to behave as a winger for a lot of the sport, relieving him of defensive duties and permitting him to give attention to inventive duties. This superior position is the one which he gained prominence in at PSV, and later at Inter Milan the place he changed Achraf Hakimi.
Denzel Dumfries: the box-to-box wing-back pic.twitter.com/OgQQllczYF
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 3, 2022
His Man of the Match efficiency noticed him rating one and help two towards the US, however his worth goes past the numbers. Usually at hand to do a shift in defence when required, Dumfries is ready to carry the ball into the ultimate third, make use of house created for him when the forwards pin the opposition defence again, and in addition in a position to create house for the forwards together with his marauding runs in behind the opposition defence. On many events, he’s probably the most superior Dutch participant on the pitch, in probably the most harmful positions, to trigger issues regardless of not being probably the most technically sound.
Argentina must strategize for his menace down the fitting, and the way they defend the Netherlands’ width normally, maybe by asking Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister to place a shift in to shore up the huge areas, and even matching the Dutch again 5. Coach Lionel Scaloni is just not one to tinker together with his defence too typically although, which could lead on to some fascinating matchups.
In the event that they fail, Louis van Gaal may be planting yet one more fats kiss on Dumfries’s cheeks at finish of the sport, as he has performed twice already this match. “ I gave him an enormous fats kiss,” Van Gaal had stated. “I’m going to offer him one other large fats kiss so everyone can see.”