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Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has slammed Ronald Koeman's decision to drop Joshua Zirkzee to the bench against Germany. The two teams will face each other in the UEFA Nations League group stage on Tuesday (September 10).
Koeman has confirmed that Ajax's Brian Brobbey will start up front instead. Zirkzee scored his maiden international goal on his first start for the Oranje in the 5-2 Nations League win against Bosnia & Herzegovina on September 7.
After the win, Koeman said (via Metro):
"Zirkzee did very well, but I discussed this with them beforehand. I want to see both strikers from the start and the choice of why Joshua starts today and Brian on Tuesday is mainly to do with the opponent. We hope to be dangerous in the transition against Germany. I want to see them both but ultimately you want to have a regular striker."
Speaking on the same, the ever-candid Van der Vaart said on NOS:
"What does Koeman gain from this? [dropping Joshua Zirkzee for Brobbey] Imagine… Brobbey does great against a big country like Germany, or he does badly… I would just continue like this, I think. Why would you make a change? He has already said it, of course, and he will do what he has in mind. But it is almost a bit of a shame, of course."
Zirkzee signed for Manchester United in a €42.5 million deal this summer and scored on his debut in the opening-day 1-0 league win over Fulham. He featured in the two Premier League matches that followed but failed to score or assist despite getting himself into good scoring positions on multiple occasions.
Pundit praises Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee for Netherlands assist
Joshua Zirkzee opened the scoring against Bosnia & Herzegovina in the 13th minute with an improvised header from inside the box after Xavi Simons' deflected shot looped up in the air. But that wasn't the only bright moment he had in the game.
In first-half stoppage time, Zirkzee found Tijjani Reijnders in the center of the opponent's defensive third with a smart pass from the left flank. It was carefully caressed between two Bosnian players and had the ideal pace and direction on it for the AC Milan man to take it in his stride.
Praising Zirkzee's assist, ex-Eredivisie defender Hans Kraay Jr said, via Voetbal Primeur (h/t United in Focus):
"He [Joshua Zirkzee] passes it with exactly the right speed so that Reijnders can curl it with his inside. Zirkzee is so intelligent. He not only passes it on the run, he also passes it in such a way that it is not too hard and ends up on Reijnders’ left. I think that is so beautiful."
The 23-year-old will now hope to feature for Manchester United in their league outing against Southampton on September 14 once the international break gets over.
