Major Concerns for National Coach Ronald Koeman and Oranje Ahead of the World Cup

Koeman faces a serious dilemma, as confidence is a scarce commodity within the Oranje squad. In fact, the number of players genuinely arriving at the Dutch national team with a good feeling can be counted on one hand. Bart Verbruggen, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Brian Brobbey, Donyell Malen, and debutant Kees Smit currently appear to be the few brimming with confidence. The rest? They're either returning from injury, battling a dip in form, or barely seeing any playing time.

Take Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo at Liverpool. Last season, they were untouchable champions; now, they frequently find themselves under scrutiny. Or consider Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons, who in a short span have gone from standout performers in top leagues to players suddenly embroiled in relegation battles. And then there's Memphis Depay, the all-time top scorer expected to deliver goals. Since the summer of 2025, he has missed seventeen matches, with his goal tally standing at a mere five.

Even experienced players like Wout Weghorst, Stefan de Vrij, Teun Koopmeiners, and Nathan Aké offer little reassurance. They rarely secure a starting spot at their clubs but remain on Koeman's list for Oranje. Additionally, there are players who believed they were making a significant career move, such as Noa Lang, Tijjani Reijnders, and Jorrel Hato. In practice, this step has primarily meant they are frequently warming the bench.

On paper, Oranje still appears to boast a squad full of players from Europe's top leagues. However, a closer look reveals that the number of players with rhythm, form, and confidence is surprisingly small. Genuine powerhouses who consistently make a difference for their clubs each week? They are currently hard to find.

Normally, one might argue that the Dutch national team acts as a reset button. A change of environment, a different shirt, and players suddenly rediscover their form. However, for Oranje, this hasn't been the case for quite some time. For almost a year, the team has been living off one truly strong performance and a few decent victories against lower-ranked opponents.

Many continue to fixate on that spectacular match against Spain (3-3, loss after penalties). But anyone who sees that as proof that Oranje is ready for the world elite is looking through incredibly optimistic rose-tinted glasses. Yet, Koeman continues to openly dream of a World Cup title. Ambition is commendable. But with the current form of the squad, Oranje would be fortunate to reach the quarter-finals.