In the 2nd round of the UEFA A League match on September 11, Beijing time, the Netherlands and Germany fought for 90 minutes, and finally shook hands with a 2-2 draw. After the match, the Dutch head coach Koeman accepted the media's interview and gave a comprehensive review of the team's performance.
Koeman began by recognizing his team's performance in the second half, saying that the team showed tenacity and resilience in coming from behind. "When you are behind and know what Germany is capable of, you have to do better in the second half than you did in the first." Koeman said, "There were a lot of good aspects today, we got into trouble at times with unnecessary mistakes but when we started to press forward we regained control of the game."
Koeman had high praise for Reinders' goal. "When you are pinned down in your own half, you have to get the ball to the strikers, especially a strong striker like Brobeyi." Koeman praised, "The goal couldn't have been prepared better, Reinders and his teammates worked very well together."
Hrafenbech's pass also earned the appreciation of Koeman. "Brilliant pass!" Koeman raved, "Hrafenbech's pass created a great attacking opportunity for his team."
Speaking about Brobeyi's performance, Koeman was even more complimentary. "Brobeyi did very well and he took his chance to create the second goal." Koeman said, "There was also a certain amount of pressure, but I'm happy to have chosen him. He is fast and strong and is a great weapon for us up front."
Regarding the team having more options up front, Koeman said, "Both Brobbeyi and Zierkezer proved that they are capable of playing the role of striker for the Dutch national team. Their excellent performances have brought more attacking options to the team."
However, Koeman also pointed out his team's shortcomings in the game, especially mistakes on the defensive end. "De Ligt made a crucial mistake that led to the opponent's equalizer." Koeman said, "I would have preferred to keep the player in the game, but I have to protect him. The mistake will stay in his mind and in turn affect his performance throughout the game." Meanwhile, Koeman also mentioned the injuries of players such as Reinders and Ake, saying that the team needs to adjust the lineup as soon as possible for the upcoming matches.
Finally, Koeman summarized what the game meant for the team. "It was a good lesson in how to do better against a team like Germany." Koeman said, "We did that in the second half as well and hopefully the team can keep the momentum going for the rest of the tournament."
