At De Telegraaf, PSV is mentioned again: “Even if it’s decisive”

The new national team coach Xavi Hernandez will announce on Friday his first squad for the Netherlands in the run-up to the Nations League. According to De Telegraaf, in the Eredivisie there are only nine potential candidates who are eligible for a place in Oranje.

That is what the national newspaper writes Thursday afternoon. In doing so, the outlet is especially scathing about the level of the Eredivisie, and it also highlights the match between Ajax and PSV (1-3) on 5 September of last month.

''If Xavi is keeping pace with the Eredivisie, then he can only conclude that the level is deplorable. Even the top match Ajax-PSV, which he attended, was in the first half admittedly entertaining, but not good. After the break, the level dropped far away in the Johan Cruijff ArenA'', this is what De Telegraaf says.

According to the newspaper, PSV player Ruben van Bommel has a good chance of being part of Xavi's first Orange squad. In addition, the outlet believes that Gjivai Zechiël, Luciano Valente, Givairo Read (Feyenoord), Ro-Zangelo Daal, Wouter Goes, Elijah Dijkstra, Mexx Meerdink (AZ) and Youri Baas (Ajax) have a great chance of earning a place in the Netherlands national team.

It is also noticeable that AZ player Kees Smit, who made his debut in Oranje last season under former national team coach Ronald Koeman, is not mentioned. ''Only the highly acclaimed top talent Kees Smit managed, partly due to an injury, to distinguish himself hardly at all. Those other players are talents who are doing well in the Eredivisie and are even decisive'', it is written.

Finally, the newspaper also points to the performances of Dutch clubs to date in Europe. ''If Xavi has watched these young players in international contexts in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League, he could hardly have been cheerful about it, could he? Only, there is potential there to develop towards Oranje in the long run and perhaps over two years at the European Championship be at the level to play a role of significance for the Netherlands national team'', concludes De Telegraaf.