Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen has called on fans and pundits to not get carried away with Micky van de Ven, remarking that his mistakes against Greece showed that the Tottenham man still has a long way to go.
Van de Ven has been a revelation since arriving at Tottenham in the summer, showing composure and maturity well beyond his years.
The performances could not be overlooked by Ronald Koeman who called up the centre-back to the Dutch national side and handed him his first two caps for his country over the course of the international break, coming on as a substitute against both France and Greece.
While he showed plenty of promising signs against the French, the 22-year-old was asked to play left-back against the Greeks after replacing Feyenoord’s Quilindschy Hartman on 74 minutes as the away side was going in search of a late winner at the Stadium OPAP in Athens.
The Netherlands did eventually find the winner, with Denzel Dumfries being fouled in the box on 89 minutes and Virgil van Dijk stepping up to convert from the penalty spot.
(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Micky Van de Ven still has room for improvement
Driessen was far from impressed with Van de Ven’s cameo, suggesting that the Tottenham man showed his lack of experience on Monday night.
The journalist told VoetbalZone: “In the final phase against Greece, the Netherlands still ran into problems. Van de Ven loses a ball that results in a dangerous attack.
“These are moments when you definitely have to play. Then you see that it is a player who has not yet played many matches at this level.
“He came in very well against France. You can have him there. He is strong and fast. He still has something to prove. Now we are completely impressed by ten minutes against a France that plays at eighty per cent.
“He did make a good tackle, I have to admit that, but we don’t have to go all out when someone makes a good tackle or gives a good pass.”
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Van de Ven is capable of operating as a left-back but it is not a position that he is most comfortable in and there would have certainly been some nerves, given that he was making just his second appearance for his country.
I have no doubt that the 22-year-old will replace Nathan Ake as Van Dijk’s main centre-back partner by the time the European Championship rolls around next summer.
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