Loss of identity

For big teams, identity in their playing style is crucial, acting like a guiding lighthouse, shaping both their style of play and their fighting spirit. When that identity remains, even if their strength declines at times, the team still has a chance to bounce back. Conversely, if they don't value their own identity, the Dutch national team is the clearest example.

When mentioning the Netherlands national team, fans immediately think of the "Orange Tornado" and its characteristic total football style. This involves seamless coordination between players in both attack and defense, where every position can support, cover, and switch roles, creating a powerful, whirlwind-like attacking force. Mentioning the Netherlands also brings to mind outstanding attacking players such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Dennis Bergkamp, ​​Arjen Robben, Clarence Seedorf, and Wesley Sneijder…

The Netherlands national team is famous for its total football style, which has earned them the nickname "The Orange Tornado".

There have been times when the Dutch national team lacked talent, their strength declined, and they even failed to qualify for some World Cups , such as the 2018 World Cup. However, the attacking prowess and identity of the "Flying Dutchmen" still make any major force in world football wary. Because when they play to their full potential, they are capable of sweeping away any opponent.

Entering the 2026 World Cup, fans expect coach Ronald Koeman's team to replicate the image of the "Orange Tornado". The Netherlands possesses a squad with a harmonious blend of experience and youth, with veterans like Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay, Marten de Roon, Frenkie de Jong, Cody Gakpo, along with promising young talents such as Brian Brobbey, Ryan Gravenberch, Micky van de Ven, and Crysencio Summerville, creating a fairly balanced team across all three lines.

Under coach Ronald Koeman, the Netherlands' attacking prowess was demonstrated by convincing 5-1 victories against Sweden and 3-1 against Tunisia, securing them top spot in Group F and a place in the play-offs. However, when facing Morocco in the knockout round, he made a controversial decision by opting for a defensive counter-attacking style from the start.

The Netherlands national team participating in the 2026 World Cup is not lacking in star players.

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Morocco is a strong team, no one denies that. However, they are not significantly superior to the Netherlands. In fact, the two teams are considered quite evenly matched in terms of strength, and with their inherent strengths, the Netherlands are perfectly capable of playing on equal terms with Morocco. But what's noteworthy is that coach Ronald Koeman didn't choose that approach.

The Netherlands' formation of three central defenders – Nathan Aké, Virgil van Dijk, and Jan Paul van Hecke – along with full-backs Micky van de Ven and Denzel Dumfries, meant they entered the match feeling like they were facing a superior opponent, forcing them to prioritize defense. The reality on the pitch showed they deliberately ceded possession, playing deep and counter-attacking football, controlling the ball only around 30%. However, this approach proved ineffective. Despite having more possession, Morocco failed to create any real pressure or clear scoring opportunities in the first half.

Coach Ronald Koeman made some poor selections that led to the Netherlands' elimination from the tournament in the round of 16.

To create a breakthrough, coach Ronald Koeman switched to a four-defender formation, bringing the Netherlands back to their characteristic attacking style of play. The effect was almost immediate when they scored the opening goal. However, after that advantage, the Netherlands proactively retreated to a defensive formation instead of continuing to maintain pressure. Even after conceding the equalizer, they did not push forward in extra time, instead accepting the risky outcome of a penalty shootout.

Clearly, for players who grew up in the tradition of attacking football and donned the "Orange Tornado" jersey, having to abandon their identity to pursue a style of play contrary to their strengths somewhat affected their confidence and mentality. In a high-pressure penalty shootout, the psychological factor always plays a crucial role.

Identity is a value that is not easily formed in any football system, especially when it has been built up over many generations. When identity is lost due to inappropriate tactical calculations, a team can easily pay the price. The Netherlands national team has learned a costly lesson, and as the person making tactical decisions, coach Ronald Koeman cannot escape responsibility for this failure.

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Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/the-thao/the-thao-quoc-te/202607/mat-ban-sac-d564d8a/