Van Dijk, the captain of the Netherlands team, expressed his disappointment regarding the poor condition of the pitch at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg before their Euro 2024 opener against Poland on Sunday. Both teams have raised concerns about the turf, leading to neither side conducting their final pre-match training session at the stadium.
During a press conference on Saturday, Van Dijk mentioned that the pitch resembled the one used during a friendly match against Germany in Frankfurt back in March. He highlighted that the top layer of the pitch might deteriorate quickly, which is unfortunate for both teams. Despite the challenges posed by the pitch, Van Dijk emphasized that they would have to adapt and deal with the situation.
The Dutch team opted to hold their last training session at their base in Wolfsburg instead of the stadium in Hamburg. Coach Ronald Koeman explained that they believed training away from the stadium would better prepare them for the match. However, the decision was also influenced by the concerns surrounding the turf quality at the Volksparkstadion.
Looking ahead to the match, Koeman is expected to include RB Leipzig winger Xavi Simons in the starting lineup, potentially leaving out Jeremie Frimpong, who has been in impressive form. Simons, who scored a goal in the recent warm-up matches against Canada and Iceland, is considered one of the most promising talents in the Netherlands squad. Koeman praised Simons for his development and expressed confidence in his abilities to perform well at the European Championship.
Van Dijk echoed Koeman’s sentiments, stating that Simons has the potential to contribute even more to the team. Despite only scoring once in his international appearances, Van Dijk believes that Simons’ mentality and talent will shine through in the tournament. He expressed his confidence in the young player and emphasized that the European Championship could be a significant opportunity for Simons to showcase his skills.
As the Dutch team prepares to kick off their campaign in Group D, they face a challenging schedule with matches against tournament favorites France and Austria following their opener against Poland. The team will be looking to start strong and build momentum as they navigate through the group stage of the competition.