Tottenham star Mickey Van de Ven tears into England team and fires a BRUTAL 5-word message ahead of the EURO semi-finals.
Tottenham Star Micky van de Ven Takes a Jab at England’s ‘Defensive’ Tactics Ahead of Euro 2024 Semi-Final Showdown
As the Netherlands prepare to face England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven has taken a subtle dig at the Three Lions’ playing style, suggesting they focus too much on defense. Van de Ven, who has been limited to four substitute appearances in the tournament so far, believes the Netherlands have the speed and quality to outmaneuver England’s pacey attackers like Bukayo Saka and Kyle Walker.
The 23-year-old Dutch defender, who was clocked as the Premier League’s fastest player last season, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to handle England’s speedsters. “Saka is a wonderful footballer with lots of pace, but Van Dijk and Ake have a lot of pace too – and I’m sure they can handle him,” he said. “We have a good balance of defense and attack, and I think we can cause England some problems.”
Van de Ven also couldn’t resist taking a jab at England’s tactics, saying, “I think they play defensively. We will go and analyze them properly, but what I can say is they have a lot of quality.” He added, “Hopefully, it’s us who will have more of the ball than England, so that it is England who do the running. But I expect a high-intensity game. We need to be smart and use our pace to our advantage.”
The Netherlands are well aware of the criticism England has faced for their playing style, and Van de Ven’s comments are likely to add fuel to the fire. However, with players like Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake, and Cody Gakpo in their ranks, the Dutch are confident in their ability to outplay England and reach the Euro 2024 final.
Gakpo, who has been in impressive form in the tournament, scoring three goals and providing one assist, is also confident in his team’s ability to prevail in a penalty shootout, if needed. “England’s penalties were very good against Switzerland, but if you see the players who took them, they are quality players who take penalties for their clubs,” he said. “We have a good goalkeeper and a strong team spirit, so I think we can handle the pressure.”
The stage is set for a thrilling semi-final encounter between two of the tournament’s top teams. Will England’s defensive tactics pay off, or will the Netherlands’ speed and quality prove too much for them? Only time will tell. The Dutch are eager to prove themselves and make a statement in this tournament, and a win over England would be a significant step towards achieving their goals.
With the pressure building and the stakes high, both teams will be giving it their all in this highly anticipated match. The Netherlands will be looking to exploit England’s weaknesses and capitalize on their chances, while England will be hoping to shut down the Dutch attack and grind out a win. It’s sure to be a intense and exciting match, and fans from both sides will be on the edge of their seats as these two footballing giants clash.
