Holland used to be the benchmark of creative total football for European teams.
Throughout football’s history the dutch have been renowned for their stylish approach and innovative tactics.
And then 2015 happened.
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Successive failures to qualify for Euro 2016 and then this summer’s World Cup in Russia has forced a long introspective look at what has gone wrong with the Oranje.
And after trying the Arjen Robben-Robin van Persie combination several more times before sadly realising that they were just too old, it looks like Holland are finally tearing it all up and going with the next generation.
Ajax’s Justin Kluivert has been given his first call-up to the national side at exactly the same age as his father Patrick, 25 years ago.
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Patrick went on to make 79 appearances for Holland scoring 40 goals and everyone is hoping his tremendously talented son will be able to replicate his father’s career.
But Ronald Koeman has also handed out several other first call-ups for his first match in charge as he tries to give the squad a whole new look.
Alongside Kluivert, PSV’s starlet Steven Bergwijn, Atalanta defender Hans Hateboer and AZ Alkmaar’s Guus Til, Wout Weghorst and Marco Bizot have all been called-up to the national side.
Ruud Vormer, Club Brugge’s 29-year-old also made it for the first time, but the 33-man squad will be cut down by Koeman a week before England go to Amsterdam for the match.
While all these debutants would prefer this to be a warm-up game for the World Cup instead of just a run through for the Three Lions.
But Holland, Koeman and the new boys will have to wait until at least September this year before they get any taste of competitive action.
The Ajax production belt continues.
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