Former coaches call for a place in the starting lineup for Donyell Malen: “He has earned it.”

After the group stage, it seems to be settled that Brian Brobbey will also start in the forward line in the match against Morocco. Against Sweden and Tunisia, Brobbey was in fact good for at least one goal and therefore appears to have secured his place in the starting lineup for Oranje.

As a result, former PSV player Donyell Malen played on the right-hand side in the past two matches and against Morocco it is still a question whether the forward will also start. In addition, there is still a chance that national coach Ronald Koeman will choose to have Crysencio Summerville start on Tuesday night.

However, if it were up to Guus Hiddink and Henk ten Cate, Malen would simply be starting against the Atlas Lions. Both former coaches say this in the program De Oranjezomer on SBS6.

''That is a choice for the national team coach, who sees them all day at training. I think the Malen–Dumfries combination is a very good one. I might argue for that combination,'' said Ten Cate.

Hiddink shares the words of his fellow analyst. ''On that position, you can keep a trump card up your sleeve with Summerville. Of course it is up to the national coach, but you can start with Malen and, if you want to have decisive moments, you can bring Summerville in later. It is not said that he has to start with him right away,'' replies the man born in Achterhoek.

According to the former national team coach, Koeman would do well to keep Summerville in reserve rather than putting him in the starting lineup. ''I can now speak freely, and I would start with Malen. I would keep Summerville in reserve for the final punch. Dumfries is underestimated, but he plays very short passes under pressure. That’s how that second goal in the previous match came about as well'', Hiddink said. 

And Memphis Depay? He hasn't exactly made himself very popular in recent years. The former PSV player is now considered, by many football fans, a persona non grata. Most of football-loving Netherlands has little regard for Memphis Depay—his attitude but especially his way of presenting himself on the pitch. "He's ruined it," people say on X.