Rapper Depay sings, "I'm a pelican, and I have an opinion to say hello to my big mouth." ”
On June 16, Depay released a single with Dutch musician and activist Aquasi, which included the lyrics. Later in the day, Depay started the opening round of the European Championship group stage against Poland against the Netherlands.
Depay's rap is purely for fun, but after the start of the European Championship, many people said that he was also an amateur when he played as a center forward.
He is the second-highest scorer in Dutch history (46 goals), behind only Robin van Persie (50), and it is not easy to be the all-time second-scorer in the Netherlands, who have played Cruyff, Bergkamp, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Van Basten.
However, Depay's performance this summer has been a surprise. Depay scored in the final round of the group stage when the Netherlands lost 3-2 to Austria, but many Dutch fans still wanted Weghorst to replace him in the starting line-up.
Since the end of the 2022 World Cup, including the goal scored by the Austrian team, Depay has only scored 3 goals in the international arena. Of the other 2 goals, 1 was scored against Gibraltar.
文章开头的那首歌叫什么?Thanks for your opinion——谢谢你们的意见昂。 他的白色头带背面也有类似的文字——“谁在乎？”
Koeman and Depay have a long history.
The Dutch head coach has particular trust in certain players, and Wijnaldum is one of them. The latter is 33 years old, did not play in the European qualifiers, and was recalled to the national team before this European Championship. He played at a lower level in Saudi Arabia and made three substitute appearances in the group stage of this European Championship.
When Koeman first took charge of the national team (February 2018 and summer 2020), Depay was a regular in the national team. At that time, Koeman saved his career by transforming Depay from a left winger to a national team's main centre-forward. In 2021, Koeman brought Depay to Barcelona from Lyon, France, and once again assigned him the position of the main centre-forward.
Initially, Koeman played in a 5-3-2 formation in the Netherlands, with Depay and Proms (or Ryan Babel) playing as two strikers. Koeman switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Depay playing the arrow and Wijnaldum trailing behind. The system worked well, with Depay scoring 11 goals in 18 games under Koeman. In 2021, Louis van Gaal returned to the helm of the national team, with Depay still playing as a regular centre-forward, scoring 17 goals in 16 appearances throughout the calendar year.
Koeman has actually been trying to replicate the old system this summer, starting Reinders in the number 10 role and putting Wijnaldum on the bench.
The 30-year-old struggled with injuries at Atletico last season, scoring just five goals in 23 La Liga appearances (nine starts), but it is no surprise that he continues to be selected for the national team. Koeman told Dutch media before the European Championships that certain players would not be included in the squad due to questionable physical conditions, such as the likes of Zikze, Timber, Berhaus and Matt Weaver.
Koeman also said there were two exceptions for the wounded men – Frenkie de Jong (who ultimately missed Europe due to injury) and Depay (who injured his left leg).
In Koeman's opinion, Depay is the only centre-forward in the Dutch team who can play the style he wants. Koeman also brought Weghorst and Brobby to Germany, and less than a week before the start of Europe, midfielder Koemanes was injured and Zikze was urgently replaced.
Plan A is: Depay pulls back to play a position similar to a false nine. Theoretically, this would allow the Dutch team's most dangerous attackers, Gakpo and Xavi Simmons, to latch on to Reinders' through ball and get behind the opposition's defence.
On the field, Depay's performance was miserable, especially in the first two rounds of the group stage.
In the 0-0 draw with France in the second round, he played 79 minutes, touched the ball 28 times, made 9 mistakes, and completed 63.1% of the passes (the lowest among the starters of both teams). If Koeman's minimum requirement for a centre-forward is tandem, then Depay has not even met the minimum requirement.
What's even more outrageous is that he only touched the ball once in the French penalty area in the whole game. In the first two rounds, he shot once on target and created one chance. Public opinion questioned his position as the main force.
'Memphis has a lot to do for the team,' Coman insisted after the match against France, "and he played very well. This team needs him so much. Teammates have to pass the ball to him. He was still a starter [against Austria]. Memphis is wounded, but capable. He has to play better, we all know that. ”
Against Austria, Depay did well, scoring the equaliser and was more involved in the attacking organisation, having the fourth most touches in the team (56). However, his passing was still poor, with 21 turnovers conceded. (Of course, the whole Dutch team didn't pass the ball very well.) ）
Depay was one of only three of the 33 attackers who played 180′+ in the group stage who never created a chance to play. (The other two are Serbia's Mitrovic and Austria's Arnautovic).
"The national team manager talked to every player [before the European Championships] and everything was clear," Weghorst revealed. I was disappointed and uncomfortable. I appreciate his (Koeman's) attitude, [but] it's annoying. I've been upset for the past 2 days. Now it's up to me to do it. ”
Weghorst did a very good job. In the first game against Poland, he came off the bench in the 83rd minute and scored with his left foot (not his dominant foot) less than two minutes into the game. Judging by the results of the last two games of the Dutch team, it was this goal that sent them to the round of 16.
Weghorst revealed that he sent a WhatsApp message to his pregnant wife, Nikki, saying that he would be playing to change the game.
The 31-year-old has proven himself on more than one occasion.
Weghorst didn't make his international debut until he was 25 years old, and Depay had already scored 19 international goals at the same age. The former was a bit of a late bloomer, playing in the lower leagues in his early years and playing late in the Eredivisie (AZ Alkmaar) and Bundesliga (Wolfsburg).
Weghorst averaged almost one goal per game in the tournament and has scored in the last three tournaments, but has never competed as a main striker for the national team.
The average height of the Netherlands (184 cm) is one of the highest in the world, and there is no shortage of high school strikers in the history of Dutch football, such as Dirk Nanninga (15 international appearances, 190 cm), Bas Dost (18 international appearances, 196 cm), Jan Vennegale (191 cm in 19 international appearances), Gales (20 international appearances, 181 cm), Mackay (43 international appearances, 186 cm), Kieft (43 international appearances, 190 cm) and Van Hojdonk (46 international appearances, 193 cm).
There are also some strikers who are more than 180 cm tall, such as Robin van Persie (183 cm) and Huntelaar (186 cm), who are too technically good to be a strong centre-forward.
Dutch football has produced a lot of big centre-forwards, but there aren't many big men who are really used. In the Netherlands, putting a big centre-forward on the pitch is a bit like buying a fake tie – sometimes necessary, but also a last resort.
Dutch football favours technical strikers, false nines and winger-turned-centre-forwards such as Cruyff, Van Basten, Bergkamp and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Koeman is more conservative in tactics, but so is his basic logic. Only at certain moments when there is a need to change the style of play, such as when a long pass is required, will Koeman bring Weghorst on the pitch. Despite Depay's poor performance against France, Coman opted to change the entire right flank first, replacing Depay with Weghorst in the 79th minute.
Depay and Weghorst have very different styles of play.
As you can see in the chart below, Koeman has been in charge of the Dutch national team since he returned to the helm. Eighteen per cent of Weghorst's touches were in the centre of the opposition box, compared to just 7 per cent for Depay, who often swam to the left and midfield.
The range of movement is a plus, but for a centre-forward, if you can't score, you have to at least create chances. And since the start of this European Cup, Depay can't do anything.
In stark contrast, against Austria, Weghorst set up Depay's goal after just three minutes on the pitch. Weghorst has played 36 international games and scored 12 goals, which is not impressive at first glance. However, he has only started 11 games for the national team, scoring 0.81 goals per 90 minutes, compared to Depay's 0.59.
Will Koeman change perceptions? Unlikely.
Speaking ahead of the Euros, the Dutch boss said: "I think every team needs 'Dutch character' and it needs 'England character' to make the team stronger. We put the interests of the team first, not the interests of the players. ”
There is also a scenario: Depay and Wejos play together in the starting line-up. In the final moments of the group stage final game against Austria, the two played together, Weghorst played as a central striker and Depay played on the left.
Koeman had tried a similar tactic in the previous warm-up against Canada, with Depay starting on the left and Robby in the centre. On that day, left-back Van der Veen almost played as a left winger in attack, with Depay swimming inside.
However, in the 1/8 final against Romania, Koeman is unlikely to do so.
At the moment, Nathan Ake is the preferred choice for Dutch left-backs, who has been in excellent form at this tournament and has been characterised by adduction in midfield and along the flanks. In addition, Gakpo started all three group games as a left winger and appears to be the most consistent attacker for the Netherlands at the moment.
Although Zikze and Brobby are also in the squad, neither is likely to play. Koeman has publicly criticised them for not scoring enough goals not long ago.
To sum up, Koeman has two options in the center forward position - Weghorst who is often teased, and Depay, who raps more than goals.
In the games to come (if there are more games to come), will the Netherlands opt for Weghorst, who is in good form but has limited ability, or will they continue to let Depay slowly find his form?
By all indications, Koeman had the answer in his heart.
Thank you all for your opinions, Depay is my big daddy.