- England and the Netherlands will meet on Wednesday in a Euro 2024 semi-final
- Dutch duo Micky van de Ven and Cody Gakpo spoke to the media on Monday
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Gareth Southgate has gone a bit rogue… and the masks has slipped
Micky van de Ven insists that the Netherlands will be capable of take care of Bukayo Saka in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final towards England.
‘Saka is an excellent footballer with a lot of tempo however [Virgil] van Dijk and [Nathan] Ake have loads of tempo too and I’m positive they will deal with him,’ mentioned van de Ven.
The Dutch defender has come off the bench in 4 of his nation’s 5 video games on the Euros and made a vital block towards Turkey within the latter levels of their quarter-final win.
However he refused to disclose whether or not Ronald Koeman will convey him into the beginning XI for Wednesday’s recreation in Dortmund due to his tempo.
Van de Van added: ‘I do know Saka very effectively from him enjoying at Arsenal. I confronted him twice. We’ll see if the supervisor will begin me.’
Netherlands defender Micky van de Ven spoke at a press convention on Monday morning
Among the many topics mentioned at Monday’s press convention was England star Bukayo Saka
Spurs defender Van de Ven and Arsenal ahead Saka twice confronted off at membership stage final season
However the Tottenham man admitted that he’s the faster participant when requested who was quicker between him and Saka, with Cody Gakpo interrupting to say that ‘Micky is the quickest participant ever within the Premier League.’
Van de Ven – who recorded the quickest pace ever by a Premier League participant, clocking a prime pace of 37.38 km/h (23.23 mp/h) towards Brentford in January – mentioned: ‘That is exhausting to say however when you take a look at the information, I feel you already know the reply.’
In the meantime, Gakpo – who has performed a starring function in Germany for Ronald Koeman’s aspect, scoring three objectives of their run to the final 4 – admitted that he prefers enjoying down the left, slightly than as a striker, the place he has performed predominantly for Liverpool since transferring from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.
‘I used to be a left winger earlier than in order that’s at all times been my choice,’ mentioned Gakpo. ‘However within the final one and a half years, the coach (Jurgen Klopp) wanted me to play some place else and that is what I attempted to do at my finest,’ he added.
The 25-year-old additionally burdened how he and his teammates need to go all the best way and replicate the achievements of the 1988 Dutch aspect, which included Koeman and gained the Euros in West Germany. It stays their solely main trophy and Gakpo was adamant that they won’t take England frivolously, regardless of their below-par performances.
Van de Ven pictured celebrating in the course of the Netherlands’ quarter-final victory over Turkey
Liverpool’s Dutch frontman Cody Gakpo additionally spoke to the media on Monday morning
‘This has been a really stunning match with our group. The sensation’s actually sturdy,’ mentioned Gakpo. ‘We’re within the semi-final and this isn’t the tip of the match. Each single workforce that’s right here desires to get to the ultimate and we’re no completely different.
‘It is not for nothing that England are within the semi-finals. They’ve a extremely good group of participant and it is a incredible squad. So it would hopefully be a stupendous recreation.’
