Pundit urges manager to bring Tottenham man into the team for crucial fixture

Dutch icon Pierre van Hooijdonk has urged Ronald Koeman to bring Micky van de Ven into his Netherlands starting eleven to cope with the threat of Bukayo Saka in tonight’s Euro 2024 semi-final.

Van de ven has mostly seen action off the bench this summer

The Netherlands take on England this evening at the Westfalenstadion for the chance to play Spain in the final in Berlin on Sunday.

Neither team have had a smooth passage to the final four, having flattered to deceive in some matches, but both sides are full of match winners who are capable of delivering on the big stage.

So far this tournament, Koeman has used van de Ven as a late substitute at left-back in almost all of the matches, preferring to start with Manchester City‘s Nathan Ake.

However, calls are now growing for the Tottenham man to come into the starting eleven for the semi-final, with van Hooijdonk being the latest to suggest that change.

van de Ven has the pace to cope with the threat of Saka

The former Netherlands striker identified Saka as England’s biggest threat and suggested that the 23-year-old could be the man to nullify the Arsenal man.

When asked why he wants van de Ven to start at left-back, he told Studio Fußball, (relayed by Voetbal Primeur): “That really has to do with his (Van de Ven’s) duelling power. He often takes the opponent with him in his tackle.

“He is just in pain; he is really bothered by it. Besides the fact that with his speed he also has a lot of can correct.

“In my opinion, Saka is the most dangerous player in the English team. You often hear trainers say: we look from match to match. Then you look very specifically at that opponent. Then you could well say: Saka is lightning fast, I put Van de Ven against that.”

Spurs Web Opinion

Having stuck with nearly the same starting eleven all tournament, I doubt Koeman would decide to make a change ahead of the semifinal.

I would expect Ake to start and for van de Ven to come on around the 70th minute, which has been the pattern in the competition so far.

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