Life will come full circle for Ronald Koeman when the Netherlands face Japan in Dallas on Sunday, as he returns to the city where his international playing career drew to a close.
In the 1994 World Cup, Brazil proved a hurdle too far in the quarter-finals. The current Dutch manager has drawn on his experiences of playing then to help his players for what is to come. “I remember one game which we played around midday, and it was so hot,” he recalls. “I spoke with the players about what they can do to prepare themselves for the heat.”
Although Koeman acknowledges that sports science has advanced significantly since then, he knows not everything can be controlled when it comes to temperatures and travel during this tournament.
Like England, Koeman’s squad will be based in Kansas City and he will do everything to keep his players in good shape, not least Frenkie de Jong, who was ruled out of Euro 2024 due to injury. “It’s always a big issue if we play with or without Frenkie, because he’s really important in his role within the team,” Koeman said.
“He’s our first midfield player in how we like to build up towards the offensive side. His experience, and his speed on the ball, he can perform an action and then suddenly he is 15 metres higher up the pitch.”
Koeman also points to the importance of Virgil van Dijk, who captains both Liverpool and the Netherlands. “In my opinion, he is one of the best defenders in Europe,” Koeman said. “As a coach, you’re always looking for a captain who is like a coach for the players on the pitch. With his personality and the way he prepares for matches, he is a real example within the team.”
Koeman has mentioned previously that the goal is to win the World Cup. But he is realistic, and knows they are not among the favourites. “I think what France and Spain are showing, and Argentina with Messi still in that shape, it’s possible he could win a second title with them, because Argentina’s mentality is really strong. Maybe Holland, like Germany, are not among the top favourites, but just behind them.
“Realistically, if you look at France and the number of attacking players they have competing at the top of Europe, that’s more than we have. But I believe we have a really strong team. We showed it against Spain in the quarter-final of the Nations League [in March 2025]. It’s not easy to beat us.”
Koeman knows that the blend of attacking football is woven into the identity of Dutch football and says it doesn’t always work in their favour. “In Holland, the difficult part is that you have to play attacking football and you have to win. Like Barcelona. If you win and you’re lucky, then it’s not good enough. We are really critical with everything in Holland, that’s our mentality. But you have to be realistic sometimes – in a positive way of course. That’s my fight against the Dutch media sometimes,” he jokes.
When mentioning Messi earlier, Koeman thinks back to the days when he worked with the Argentinian playmaker at Barcelona. “In my opinion, he’s the best player ever. It’s difficult to compare Messi with Pelé, with Johan Cruyff and all the great players we have seen. But what I saw from Messi during his time at Barcelona was unbelievable. And at the World Cup there is also Cristiano Ronaldo, he is even a little bit older than Messi, and it’s impressive that he is also still performing at the top.”
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The Netherlands will play Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in the group phase, and Koeman is well aware that qualifying for the next round is not a foregone conclusion. “I think we have a tough group. Japan are physically strong and play good football. If you watch all their recent results, including their performances at the 2022 World Cup, it shows how seriously we have to take them. They also won both friendlies in March, away to Scotland and England.”
Koeman is also conscious of the Swedish team, who the Netherlands will face in their second match. “I think they have top players up front who are scoring goals and they are physically strong. Everybody is talking about set-pieces these days, and rightly so, because it’s a big and important part in football and Sweden are strong in that.”
It’s more difficult to analyse Tunisia, Koeman explains, as they changed head coach in January.
The national team job suits Koeman well, especially as he has had to deal with some difficult personal circumstances. His wife has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“She has treatment every week, either here in the Netherlands or in Barcelona when we are there,” Koeman said.
“That’s why I think being a national team manager is the best job I can have, with all these things I have to handle in life with my family. Sometimes you face difficult moments, but as a family we are strong enough to go through them. Football has been a very important part of my life for many years and it gives me focus and energy, also during challenging times.”
He hopes to create something special this summer that will not only elevate him and his family, but a whole nation.
Photograph by Koen van Weel/AFP via Getty Images