“We are picking up 3 points” - Fans in confident mood as Netherlands star takes up different role in line-up to face France at Euro 2024
After a last-minute victory against Poland, the Netherlands are about to face Didier Deschamp's France in Euro 2024's Group D fixture on June 21. The French side didn't start the Euros like they would've wanted and just about crossed the line against Austria courtesy of an own goal by Maximilian Wober.
The official Netherlands lineup for their fixture against France is out and the team has made a curious change. Jeremie Frimpong is starting on the right wing for the Netherlands, with Joey Veerman going out of the starting XI.
The Dutch fans have flooded the comment section with love for the Bayer Leverkusen man, claiming that Frimpong was the missing piece in the Dutch puzzle in Euro 2024. Some of their reactions are as follows:
"Frimpong right winger… I love it," claimed one fan on X.
"Frimpong up front? That's a good one actually," agreed another.
"Finally Frimpong starts," lauded one fan on X.
Many other fans tried to predict how Frimpong will combine with the other forwards and the passers in the midfield to break the French defense.
"@Switchkidjason frimpong finally getting the nod on the right with memphis and gakpo to his left with a starboy xavi behind him. we are picking up 3 points," explained one X user.
"Frimpong," exclaimed another.
"Frimpong masterclass ON THE WAY," predicted a fan.
Jeremie Frimpong has been instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen's revolutionary season under Xabi Alonso. The Dutchman played 47 games and scored 14 goals for the Bundesliga champions this season. Additionally, the right wing-back assisted 12 times this season.
Netherlands survived a scare in their first Euro 2024 game against Poland
The Netherlands survived a tricky game against Poland in their first Euro 2024 fixture on June 16. The Dutch got a shock in the 16th minute as Adam Buksa converted his header from a perfectly directed corner kick by Piotr Zieliński.
However, the Dutch equalized within the next fifteen minutes courtesy of a big deflection from a shot by Cody Gakpo that wrong-footed the goalkeeper. The comeback was completed in the 83rd minute by Wout Weghorst as he pulled off a poacher's finish inside the penalty box and guided the ball past Wojciech Szczęsny.
The Dutch will want to carry the never-give-up spirit from their previous game in the upcoming clash against France. Fans are expecting Jeremie Frimpong to coordinate with the likes of Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo in the Dutch frontline and inject pace to run at the French defense during counter-attacking situations.
Furthermore, Koeman is reliant on the creativity of Xavi Simons in the midfield to open up the French backline and manufacture chances for the men up front.