The Netherlands will look to use their latest Euro 2024 qualifier away to Gibraltar as a chance not just for goals but for the reserve players to stake a claim for a place in next year’s finals squad, coach Ronald Koeman said.
The Tulips booked their place at the June 2024 tournament in Germany by beating Ireland 1-0 in Amsterdam on Saturday to secure second place in Group B and now complete their qualifying campaign in Faro, Portugal.
“I want to see some new boys in action,” Koeman told a news conference, adding that despite the busy schedule of his top players, no one is voluntarily giving up their place.
“They all want to have as many games as possible against their name, so they’re not happy if I don’t play them,” he added.
The Dutch face a Gibraltar side who lost 14-0 to France in Nice on Saturday and Koeman said his players will also be looking to score plenty of goals.
“There is not much to be gained in a match like this. For us it is like part of the preparation for the European Championship. Against this opponent I want to see intensity and a lot of goals,” commented Koeman.
“I really don’t want a record win. I want to feel afterwards that we did everything we could to score more goals. It seems clear to me that the attacking game will have to be better than against Ireland,” he added.
Koeman revealed at the press conference that the Netherlands had arranged a friendly against Germany next year, but said it would be canceled if the two sides were drawn in the same group for Euro 2024. The draw is in Hamburg on December 2.
