Ronald Koeman playfully points to assistant in discussion about Oranje attackers: 'Also his fault'

"It's not suddenly a major headache," national coach Koeman stated at the press conference following Wednesday's first training session in Kansas City. "We have enough attackers with the quality to score, and we're certainly not suddenly at the mercy of the gods regarding whether chances turn into goals or not." Casually, he also gave a telling answer when asked what he, as a coach, could do about it: "Make substitutions."

Donyell Malen, who has transformed into a goal-scoring machine since his winter transfer to AS Roma, was given the opportunity to lead the attack in friendly matches against Algeria and Uzbekistan. This was partly because Memphis Depay was not yet fully fit after a weeks-long injury, from which he had only recovered just before the World Cup preparations. Koeman remained tight-lipped about whether he would make changes to his intended starting eleven, but did say he 'already knows'. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have done my homework properly."

Koeman observed that the efficiency in the final warm-up matches was 'very low'. A handful of chances were squandered per game by various players. "Efficiency is crucial in football. It hasn't made me less confident for Sunday against Japan. That will be a real test. If we convert those chances then, it will be a completely different story."

Against Algeria (0-1 loss), Uzbekistan (2-1 win thanks to two successful penalties), and Uzbekistan's reserve team (1-2 loss), Koeman also acknowledged that things could have turned out much better. "I can show footage (from that closed-door final match, ed.)... We missed many clear-cut chances there too. It was an extension of the main match."

Koeman has former top striker Ruud van Nistelrooij on his staff, who joined the squad in America slightly later than planned. His role is to ensure the attackers are in peak form. "It's also his fault," Koeman joked about the lack of sharpness in the friendly matches. "With his own experience and knowledge as a striker, we see him every day with his laptop, sitting with the lads to show footage and help them make decisions. He and we are doing a lot in that regard. The focus and the confidence. Ultimately, it's up to the player to put them in the net, but we try to create the conditions in every possible way."

Captain Van Dijk also plays a role in this. "I have to give and keep giving confidence. It's not like they've suddenly forgotten how to play," he said, referring to his teammates. "We just have to keep going; those chances will come again."