Netherlands’ goalkeeper Robin Roefs has stated that the team is ‘prepared’ to showcase their abilities ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final in the Under-21 European Championships.
The Dutch squad advanced to the semi-finals after knocking out tournament favourites Portugal. Although the Young Lions struggled to secure victory in their opening two matches, they have since kept a clean sheet in their last two encounters.
Roefs, who plays for NEC Nijmegen, was called up to take the reins just before the tournament commenced, following an injury to first-choice keeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro during a warm-up game against Ivory Coast.
Missing from the Netherlands squad are captain Devyne Rensch, midfielder Kenneth Taylor, and left winger Ruben van Bommel, all sidelined due to suspensions. “They’re three pivotal, outstanding players,” remarked Roefs. “However, I believe we possess a strong team, as demonstrated in all our matches. We must reaffirm that every player has a crucial role.”
“During training, there’s hardly any distinction between all the players, so I reckon we’ll manage just fine.”
Long Season
In Tuesday’s press briefing, manager Michael Reiziger announced that Jorrel Hato will captain the side against England in the absence of Rensch and Taylor.
This match will mark Hato’s 60th game of the season. Roefs admitted it’s been a long season for him too, although perhaps not in the same manner. “It’s less demanding for a goalkeeper, but playing so many matches in such a short timeframe does take its toll.”
Physically, the NEC keeper feels fit. “No bruised hip, and I haven’t had to dive much. The defence has been performing well in front of me.”
The last clash between the Netherlands and England at the U21 Euros occurred in 2007, when the two teams faced off in the semi-finals. The Netherlands triumphed in that encounter via penalties and went on to win the tournament for a second consecutive year.
At 22 years old, Roefs is ready for a potential penalty shootout. “Absolutely. We prepare for penalties before every match.”
However, the Young Lions will be without the player Roefs deems the best at penalty taking: “We have Kenneth (Taylor), who’s scored several crucial penalties for Ajax in the Eredivisie.”
Growth
After their initial two matches ended in a draw against Finland (2-2) and a loss to Denmark (2-1), the Netherlands seemed to switch gears, significantly improving in their performances against Ukraine and Portugal. Roefs believes that both he and the team have developed throughout the tournament.
“I wasn’t entirely satisfied with my performance at the start of the tournament, similar to the others, but I feel I’ve played well in the last few matches.”
When asked about improvements since Reiziger altered the team’s approach, Roefs highlighted the defensive aspect. “We’ve established more stability at the back. In the first few games, if we lost possession, it left us exposed defensively. We’ve managed that well with some tactical adjustments and a better mindset.”
When Ruben van Bommel was sent off in the 21st minute against Portugal, Roefs feared he would face a hectic evening. “But I think we performed excellently with ten men; everyone put in a tremendous effort.”
‘Very Good Team, Just Like Us’
England, much like the Netherlands, has shown growth throughout the tournament, delivering their best performance against Spain, whom they eliminated with a 3-1 victory.
“They’re a very good team, just like us,” stated Roefs. “They have many players competing at a high level. We must be at our best to move on to the next stage.”
The Netherlands and England will kick off their U21 Euros semi-final on Wednesday, June 25th, at 18:00 CET.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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