Oranje-Revolution unter Koeman: Wie Xavi Simons und Cody Gakpo die Elftal zurück an die Weltspitze führen sollen

21.05.2026 08:30 Teams & Players

The Dutch national team is on a mission. After the disappointing semi-final exit at Euro 2024 against England, national coach Ronald Koeman has set a clear course: rejuvenation, more courage going forward, and a tactical identity that should once again harken back to the great days of "total football." At the center of this reorientation stand two players who are expected to shape Dutch football in the coming years – Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo. Xavi Simons, who after his successful time in the Bundesliga at RB Leipzig is now firmly established in the midfield at Tottenham Hotspur, is regarded as the creative heart of the new Elftal. The 22-year-old playmaker combines technical brilliance with ball handling that observers compare to the best days of Wesley Sneijder. Koeman has deliberately pulled him from the wing position into the center to maximize his overview and passing game. "Xavi is the player who can make the difference for us," Koeman recently emphasized in a press conference. On the other side of the attack stands Cody Gakpo, who is undergoing intensive development at Liverpool under Arne Slot. Although the 26-year-old has recently struggled with inconsistent performances and strong competition at club level, he remains a cornerstone of the national team. He has expanded his game to include runs in depth, pressing intensity, and finishing quality. In the 2026 World Cup qualification, he scored several important goals and is increasingly taking on leadership responsibility in a team that is seeking new leaders following the retirement of veterans like Daley Blind and the weaker performances of Memphis Depay. Koeman's tactical approach relies on a modern 4-3-3 that can vary to a 4-2-3-1 depending on the opponent. Behind the attacking duo of Simons and Gakpo, Tijjani Reijnders from Milan should set the rhythm, while Frenkie de Jong finally takes on the role for which he was once celebrated at Barcelona: as a metronome with a license to advance. In defense, Koeman continues to rely on experienced Virgil van Dijk and Stefan de Vrij, supplemented by talents like Jorrel Hato from Ajax, whose rise last season was rapid. Preparations for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico have been promising so far. In qualification, Oranje presented themselves confidently, although Koeman repeatedly emphasizes that his team's true strength will only become visible in the tournament. Particularly the tactical flexibility against different playing systems represents progress compared to Euro 2024, when the Dutch often seemed helpless when falling behind. However, there are also challenges. The goalkeeper question is not definitively resolved given the inconsistent form of Bart Verbruggen and despite the experience of Mark Flekken, now active for Bayer Leverkusen. The striker position – whether Brian Brobbey, Joshua Zirkzee, or a returning Memphis – also remains a discussion topic in Dutch media. One thing is clear: with Simons as conductor and Gakpo as finisher, Koeman has two players in his ranks who can operate at world-class level. Should he succeed in establishing a stable collective around this axis, Oranje could finally make a serious bid for the top at the 2026 World Cup. The lost final of 1974 remains a national trauma – perhaps it's time to finally break the curse of eternal runners-up.