Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat explained today his team needs more tactical stability to avoid stumbles similar to those of the first matches of the World Cup qualifying, and considered tomorrow’s rival, France, as “a very good team.”
“What has failed (at the start of qualifying) is that we changed systems each match. This has to be avoided. We need more stability,” said Advocaat at a presse conference at Saint Denis stadium, outside of Paris.
Netherlands, which did not qualify for the 2016 UEFA Euro, sits in third place in Group A in qualifying for Russia 2018, three points behind leader Sweden and second-place France, tomorrow’s rival.
The “Oranje,” European champions in 1988 and three-times World Cup finalist (1974, 1978, 2010), dropped off following an unfortunate start with losses to Bulgaria (2-0), at home against France (0-1), and a draw in Sweden (1-1).
“France is a very good team. They can line up up to three different team at the same level. This is not the case for us. We have to be very organized, play collectively,” said Advocaat, who took over the reins of the national team last May after the firing of Danny Blind following the lost against Bulgaria.
Advocaat, 70, continues to feature several of the players from the 2010 runner-up and 2014 third-place squad, such as Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, and Robin Van Persie.
