Foreign praise for Orange defense: 'We need to talk about them a little more'
Giroud praises the strength and depth of the Dutch defense with Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk and Van de Ven, but does not yet place the Netherlands in the list of top favorites for World Cup victory.
Olivier Giroud is full of praise for the defense of the Dutch national team, but nevertheless does not place the Dutch team in the list of top favorites for the world title. In his column for the BBC, for which he signs as world champion and experienced tournament striker (eighteen World Cup matches), the Frenchman emphasizes that titles are often won from a strong backline.
“When I think of the strongest defense, it is perhaps that of the Dutch,” Giroud writes. National coach Ronald Koeman seems to have found his permanent formation at the back with Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven, and the former international suits that very well.
According to Giroud, almost all defenders have had an excellent season. Van Dijk is still the anchor point in this. "The only one who was perhaps not at his best at his club was Van Dijk. But that had more to do with Liverpool's problems than his own. He is still the leader of the defense and he not only has talented players around him, but also a lot of speed, energy and physical strength. I think he is still in top form."
The appreciation is mutual. Van Dijk previously said that Giroud was his most difficult opponent, because the Frenchman "always scored" against him. Giroud, in turn, names the Dutch captain in his personal top three of the most difficult opponents, together with Sergio Ramos and Pepe. “There is one funny photo where I won the physical duel. If only that had happened every time… There must be many other photos of him standing and me lying on the ground.”
Yet Giroud does not go so far as to immediately declare the Netherlands a towering favorite. “I still don't see them as one of the favorites, but maybe we should talk about them more than we are now.” He points to the Dutch team's long wait for a new World Cup final since 2010. “Sixteen years is a long time ago, maybe it is time to change that.”
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