“Donyell Malen on the bench against Morocco”

After the Netherlands' victory over Tunisia, the draw between Japan and Sweden has officially secured the Netherlands national team first place in Group F. As a result, Oranje will play in the night from Monday 29 to Tuesday 30 June at 3 o'clock in Monterrey against Morocco.

Morocco, with PSV players Ismael Saibari and Anass Salah-Eddine in the squad, finished second in Pool C on Thursday night after a 4-2 victory over Haiti and a 0-3 victory for Brazil over Scotland. Brazil finishes first in the group due to a better goal difference and will play the second round against Japan.

After three starting spots for Donyell Malen, the former PSV player will begin on the bench against Morocco. At least that's what Valentijn Driessen, journalist for De Telegraaf, expects.

Driessen is attending the World Cup on behalf of the newspaper and in the podcast Kick-off the journalist says he expects Koeman to put Malen on the bench against Morocco. ''He was involved in two goals and then you think he’ll get through it, but then the rest doesn’t happen. He had two nice actions and then he should have shot, but he didn’t. Then he kept dribbling and at a certain point you dribble past the goal,'' the journalist tells in the podcast.

That’s why it is also predicted that the former PSV player will have to start on the bench in the next round. ''That’s why those coaches naturally would prefer someone with a left leg on the right and someone with a right leg on the left. Then you come into play and you can shoot with your good foot. In this case, Malen goes to the bench,'' continues Driessen.

Colleague Mike Verweij can identify with Driessen’s words. ''If players aren’t feeling comfortable in their skin, then they come with a phone call to their ear along the press, that’s what Malen did too. He was called out, but he didn’t want to say anything. Those are not good signs, I think. Even if you haven’t scored in a few matches, just talk to the press. He really seems to be struggling with the current situation'', says Verweij.

However, Verweij still predicts that this World Cup will play an important role for the striker. ''He will still be important for the Netherlands national team and especially against major opponents. In the past he has also proven that, even as a substitute. I don't think it has anything to do with the weight of the Orange shirt. He has had the misfortune that in those first warm-up matches against Algeria and Uzbekistan his three chances didn't go in'', the journalist said.