Holland have needed a little while to find their stride at Euro 2024. Ronald Koeman’s team qualified for the knockout rounds as one of the four best third-placed teams, after they finished third in group D, where they beat Poland, drew against France and then lost to Austria.
Yet despite criticisms of the team looking undercooked and tactically incoherent in that 3-2 defeat by Austria in Berlin, there were signs of an attack that was coming together — evidenced in their 3-0 round-of-16 win over Romania, a comprehensive attacking performance that just lacked a finishing touch until late on. Against Turkey in Saturday’s quarter-final they showed resilience to come from a goal down to win 2-1, holding off a flurry of late attacks to progress to a semi-final against England on Wednesday.
How do they play?
Holland are a tactically flexible side. They like to dictate games, move the ball quickly through the lines with short passes, and to switch play so that their wingers can either run directly at opponents or create two-on-ones, as their full backs offer overlapping runs.
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In their last-eight match, Denzel Dumfries, the Inter Milan right wingback, advanced upfield to provide width, pace and the occasional run in behind, while Stefan de Vrij, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké formed a back three to guard against counterattacks and cover the defensive half. Aké had a more conventional attacking full-back role in their wins over Poland and Romania.
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The back line is good in the air, quick, strong and capable in one-on-one duels — all of which are particularly important as Holland tend to play with a high line and seek to hold a majority of possession.
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As expected of the Dutch national team, they play out from the back, and are unafraid of drawing opponents forward so that they can attack the space left in behind.
As this playing style graphic shows, they are not afraid to move the ball quickly through the lines.
Especially as their front three includes Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay, both of whom are skilful dribblers and who enjoy playing on the break and getting shots off.
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Koeman has tweaked his midfield regularly this tournament: sometimes using a conventional three within a 4-3-3, and at other times utilising a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Xavi Simons, 21, is the creative force at the centre of it. He has contributed three assists at the tournament.
Koeman has changed systems from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1 in Germany, and over the past year has even used 3-4-3 and 3-4-2-1 shapes, meaning Holland are capable of springing tactical surprises — many of their players are comfortable in a range of systems and roles.
Without the ball Holland press but not with the same intensity of sides such as Austria, Spain or Germany.
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Instead, when they are without the ball, they tend to position themselves around halfway, block the centre of the pitch out and challenge their opponents to either play long passes over the top — which the centre backs are comfortable defending — or force them wide, again with the upside of the centre backs being comfortable heading away crosses from the wings.
The responsibility for protecting the centre lies with the forwards, who tend to tuck in tightly — but if they are bypassed, the centre midfielders are positioned to press aggressively, win the ball, and quickly move it forward, so Gakpo, Depay and Simons can take advantage in transition.
Holland’s key players
Cody Gakpo, 25, Liverpool, forward
Remains the tournament’s joint-top scorer with three goals (the winning goal against Turkey on Saturday night was eventually judged an own goal by Uefa). He has been playing on the left wing rather than as a centre forward, which has granted him the opportunity to run at opponents more often, to prolific effect.
Memphis Depay, 30, free agent, forward
Despite recently parting ways with Atletico Madrid, the 30-year-old remains a skilful and powerful centre forward. The former Manchester United player tends to drop deep to link play, rather than operating as a conventional No9, but he is a creative and punchy finisher whose career has been stalled by injuries and a lack of minutes. His movement tends to allow his team-mates on the wing to drive inside into dangerous positions.
Tijjani Reijnders, 25, AC Milan, midfielder
Joined AC Milan from AZ Alkmaar last summer and has proven an astute signing. He is tidy and secure with possession but has a knack for moving the ball forwards and through the lines, finding the more direct players in the team. Despite his height (6ft 1in), Reijnders is known more for his technical skills and ability to advance play than his physicality and defensive work. No Dutch player has supplied more passes into the penalty area than him (eight).
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Wout Weghorst, 31, Burnley, forward
After joining Hoffenheim on loan last season, goals were a little harder to come by for the former Besiktas and Manchester United forward, who is plying his trade for Burnley. But his height, strength and presence in the penalty area make him Holland’s 6ft 5in plan B.
Virgil van Dijk, 32, Liverpool, defender
Holland’s captain, who turns 33 on Monday, is still, arguably, the finest centre back in the world. He tends to leave tackling duties to De Vrij but leads the way for clearances in the team (23, 11 more than De Vrij and Aké) and is peerless in the air (92.3 per cent aerial win rate), which makes him critical to defensive duties and attacking set-pieces.
