The Netherlands finally have a new manager in the form of Xavi, so it’s time to look ahead to what his Oranje will look like
The search is over! The KNVB have finally appointed a successor to Ronald Koeman, and it's a successor I'm very happy with.
I'd always prefer a top Dutch manager, but with the KNVB really dropping the ball in not contacting Peter Bosz before he had little choice but to sign a new PSV contract earlier this year and then getting rejected by Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag, there really weren't any great native options.
Louis van Gaal was available and interested, but given the painfully dull football we played at the 2022 World Cup, I wasn't too excited about the prospect of him returning.
Besides, Xavi spent his playing career at a club whose philosophy was shaped by Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, and was first developed in his formative years by Van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard. From a footballing perspective, he's as Dutch as they come.
I think that will be very much evident on the pitch, in terms of both the players he chooses and the style of football he implements.
Based on his coaching career thus far, this is what I expect him to do.
All about possession and pressing
First things first, I’ve watched a lot of Xavi’s Barcelona side and have done a lot of research, but I can’t explain his philosophy better than he can himself, so I’d strongly recommend watching him do so below.
In the final third in possession, the setup of Xavi’s Oranje may look similar to how it was under Koeman, with a 3-2-4-1 shape being formed by a winger tucking inside ahead of an overlapping full-back who takes his spot out wide. However, the literal positions of the players are just about the only similarity between the philosophies of the two coaches.
Whereas the Dutchman prefers a more pragmatic, adaptable, direct and risk-averse approach, Xavi is adamant that his sides must try to dominate possession at all costs and always press high up the pitch to try and win the ball back as quickly as possible.
On the ball, his priority is control. Oranje are likely to play shorter passes, play at a lower tempo, and focus more on patiently waiting for an opening than quickly penetrating a defence.
On the flip side, the tempo will be much higher and more intense out of possession, with the forwards and midfielders pressing hard in the opposition half and the backline playing very high, close to the halfway line.
The Spaniard has his teams play in such a manner regardless of the opponent, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see any surprise switches to a back five and a low block like Koeman’s approach to the World Cup clash with Morocco.
New-look midfield
While Oranje usually started in a 4-2-3-1 under Koeman, Xavi prefers the 4-3-3 of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff, with one holding midfielder instead of two.
He also prefers that holding midfielder to be a proper holding midfielder, someone who will remain stationed in front of the defence at all times and has the defensive capabilities to protect it, which has big implications for Frenkie de Jong.
De Jong exclusively played as a defensive midfielder under Koeman, but at Barcelona, Xavi used him as a number eight who would often drop deep to get the ball but also had license to get forward. He was so against using the Dutchman as a lone pivot that, after Sergio Busquets left, he played inferior players like Oriel Romeu and Andreas Christensen there instead of moving De Jong back.
Given that, we can expect to see the Barcelona player now play further forward for Oranje, and Xavi to search for a new holding midfielder, given that Ryan Gravenberch also isn’t the static and defensively strong type that he likes, as has become clear at Liverpool.
Jurrien Timber currently seems the best fit for the role. He’s defensively excellent, great in tight spaces and a good passer. He may primarily be a defender, but so was Christensen at Barcelona, and Xavi moved him forward due to his defensive qualities.
Other options include Jerdy Schouten once he’s fully fit again or a young talent that could yet develop into what Xavi’s looking for such as Newcastle’s Sean Steur or AZ’s Dave Kwakman.
Wide playmaker wanted
An integral role in Xavi’s Barcelona side was that of the wide playmaker, with Gavi tucking in from the left wing to become a number 10, and we can expect Xavi to utilise such a role in his Netherlands side.
He could look to form his box midfield another way, with a full-back or centre-back plying alongside a holding midfielder in possession, but given how effective Denzel Dumfries is as an attacking wing-back, the Real Madrid man bombing forward and the winger in front of him moving narrower probably makes the most sense.
Xavi Simons often played such a role under Koeman, but he struggled in it, and given his suitability to Xavi’s style as a product of La Masia, Barcelona’s academy, I imagine he’ll be used in his preferred role as a midfielder.
Crysencio Summerville occupied the position well during the World Cup and could continue to do so given Xavi has said he’ll select players playing in Saudi Arabia, but I’m not sure the winger really has the playmaker profile that his new coach is looking for.
Instead, I could see Kees Smit being used there. He’s played in such a role for AZ, is much more of a classic playmaker, is being primarily deployed as a number 10 for his club now, and was praised by Xavi in the Spaniard’s first press conference.
The other option that springs to mind is Teun Koopmeiners, but he’s not as agile or creative as Smit, generally needing more time and space to operate.
Potential starting XI
We won’t see this XI any time soon given the injuries to Timber, De Jong and Simons, and the fact that Smit still has to develop quite a bit more, but I can see us lining up like this at Euro 2028/
Many would like to see Robin Roefs given a chance in goal, but I can see Bart Verbruggen favoured for his superior distribution and ability with the ball at his feet.
In defence, the big omission is Micky van de Ven, but he’s really not that good in possession, with Jorel Hato and Jan Paul van Hecke both much better passers.
It’s tough to predict who the first-choice striker will be, given that Donyell Malen isn’t great at dropping deep and linking up play, and Brian Brobbey doesn’t have much in the way of creative and technical abilities.
If Joshua Zirkzee joins Fiorentina as looks likely and finds form there, he could be the perfect option for Xavi’s style thanks to his creativity, while Emanuel Emegha, Mexx Meerdink and Shaquel van Persie could also become candidates.
One man unlikely to have a starring role is Memphis Depay. Xavi wasn’t a big fan of Oranje’s all-time top scorer at Barca, letting him join Atletico Madrid a few months into his first season in the Camp Nou dugout.
Ultimately, given that he links up play well and is thriving in the world’s best league, I think Brobbey is the most likely starting striker, but I can see Zirkzee becoming a serious option if he’s as good as he was the last time he was in Serie A.
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