The Dutch national team is on a mission. After the disappointing semi-final exit at Euro 2024 against England, national team coach Ronald Koeman has set a clear course: rejuvenation, more attacking intent and a tactical identity that should harken back to the great days of "total football". At the center of this reorientation stand two players who are set 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 of Tottenham Hotspur, is considered the creative heartbeat of the new Dutch team. The 22-year-old playmaker combines technical brilliance with ball handling that observers liken to the best days of Wesley Sneijder. Koeman has deliberately moved him from the wing to the center to maximize his overview and passing play. "Xavi is the player who can make the difference for us," Koeman recently emphasized at a press conference.
On the other side of the attacking play stands Cody Gakpo, who at Liverpool under Arne Slot is undergoing intensive development. 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 ability. In the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, he scored several important goals and is increasingly taking on leadership responsibility in a team that, after the retirement of veterans like Daley Blind and the weaker performances of Memphis Depay, is looking for new leaders.
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 Simons/Gakpo, Tijjani Reijnders from Milan is to set the rhythm, while Frenkie de Jong finally assumes 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 in the past season was rapid.
The preparation for the World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico has been promising so far. In qualification, Oranje presented itself impressively, although Koeman repeatedly emphasizes that his team's true strength will only be visible in the tournament. Particularly the tactical flexibility against different playing systems is a step forward from Euro 2024, when the Dutch often seemed helpless when trailing.
But there are also challenges. The goalkeeper question is not definitively resolved due to 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 topic of discussion in the Dutch media.
One thing is clear: with Simons as conductor and Gakpo as executioner, Koeman has two players in his ranks who can perform at world-class level. If he manages to set up the collective stably around this axis, Oranje could finally challenge for the top spot at the 2026 World Cup. The lost final of 1974 remains a national trauma – perhaps it's time to finally break the curse of the eternal runner-up.
Spielplan: Niederlande
| Sun, 14.06.2026 |  Levi's Stadium | | | NED | JPN | | | - : - | |
| Sat, 20.06.2026 | Empower Field at Mile High | | | NED | SWE | | | - : - | |
| Fri, 26.06.2026 | Empower Field at Mile High | | | TUN | NED | | | - : - | |