Koeman will keep his faith in Memphis Depay (Picture: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman insists Wout Weghorst will not start against England in their Euro 2024 semi-final showdown.
The Dutch only qualified for the knockout stages of the European Championship after finishing third in their group behind Austria and France but are now just one game away from the final in Berlin on 14 July.
The Oranje found themselves a goal behind in Saturday’s quarter-final against Turkey before a towering header from Stefan de Vrij levelled the contest with an own goal from Mert Mulder, under pressure from Cody Gakpo, sealing the win.
With his side trailing at half-time, Koeman turned to Weghorst, bringing the big striker on to partner Memphis Depay up top. While he did not get on the score sheet, the Burnley striker was widely credited with changing the game for his side – just as he did in the 2022 World Cup with his two goals off the bench against Argentina.
The former Manchester United loanee is still to start a match at Euro 2024 but has been effective off the bench, scoring against Poland and providing an assist against Austria in the group stage.
Depay has been tasked with leading the line throughout the competition, supported by Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Steven Bergwijn in knockout games against Romania and Turkey.
But despite Weghorst’s presence and contribution, Koeman says he will resist starting him alongside Depay in attack.
Weghorst shone off the bench against vs Turkey (Picture: Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Keeping his faith in Depay, Koeman told Voetbal International: ‘He can do better, but that is also due to others, that also has to do with how the team plays.
‘Everyone has their opinion, everyone shouts something, but I am the one who experiences the players every day. I see things during training that no one else sees. And with me, players have the right to play a bad match once.’
Depay will continue as a lone striker (Picture: Masashi Hara/Getty Images)
Asked if Depay and Weghorst could start together against England, as they did in the second-half against Turkey, Koeman said: ‘We were behind then, so you can expect to get the ball more often and that the opponent will fold back further.
‘Then I can use Memphis as an attacking midfielder, because then you know that there will be crosses that Weghorst plays better than Memphis.
‘But of course I did not say in advance for nothing that I always want to play with three specialist midfielders.
‘Depay is not one of them. So in principle I will not start with those two. Because if we want to play with wingers, we will also have four attackers.’