Martijn Krabbendam regrets that national coach Ronald Koeman is highly unlikely to start Joshua Zirkzee against Germany. The Manchester United striker performs well when given plenty of space, which was something he didn’t experience in the 1-1 draw against Hungary. Despite his talent, Zirkzee couldn’t showcase his abilities in that match, where he was often closed down, and he struggled to make an impact.
Zirkzee didn’t have his best game during Friday’s international match, occasionally losing possession unnecessarily. “We know that laid-back style of Zirkzee; it’s also his strength,” Krabbendam begins his assessment of the striker. “But when things don’t go well in a game like the one against Hungary, he’s the first player people will criticize, wondering: what’s this guy doing up front with fancy flicks and tricks? It’s easy to see him as a showboat when things aren’t working. But when it works, as we saw a few times in the match, he can break through defenses effectively. You have to look beyond that attitude of Zirkzee, because his flair and style are part of what makes him dangerous.”
Krabbendam argues that it would have been beneficial to see Joshua Zirkzee start against Germany, given the tactical nature of the game. “I think Koeman will still go with Brobbey, though. When you play against Germany, you’re up against a team that likes to play football and creates space, which would suit Zirkzee’s style. They will attack and open up gaps, but they also have players with fantastic individual skills. The players I spoke with were eager for the chance to face Germany. Unfortunately, Zirkzee has now had to face teams like Bosnia twice. It’s a bit of a missed opportunity that Koeman hasn’t given him a different challenge.”
Ongoing debate
Despite his recent underperformance, Krabbendam isn’t too harsh in his critique of Zirkzee. “To be fair: his display against Hungary wasn’t good enough to say, ‘He’s the main striker for the Dutch national team.’ But it’s important to take into account the circumstances, the opponent, and the system. It’s not just about individual form but how the team plays as a whole. This ongoing debate about the striker position is likely to continue into November, and we might see Zirkzee get his chance in a different setting. Koeman will have to weigh his options carefully as the competition intensifies.”