Afellay urges Koeman to bench Brobbey for Tunisia clash

Ibrahim Afellay told Dutch national team coach Ronald Koeman that Brian Brobbey should not start the Netherlands' World Cup third‑group match against Tunisia, scheduled for the night of Thursday to Friday at 01:00, citing the striker’s recent hamstring complaints and the risk‑free nature of the fixture. Brobbey was the Netherlands' standout against Sweden, scoring two goals in a 5‑1 victory. He then returned to the base camp in Kansas City with slight hamstring complaints, while his club affiliation remains Sunderland. Afellay told World Cup Evening that, based on that information and his history, he would not let Brobbey start. He added that Tunisia is not a match in which risks should be taken. The third‑group match is set for the night of Thursday to Friday at 01:00.

Koeman demands more long-range shots as Netherlands eye Tunisia win

Afellay’s advice would raise the odds of Malen securing a place in the starting lineup. He noted that the only thing missing from Malen’s game is a goal, though he plays well. John van 't Schip praised Brobbey’s physical strength, especially when playing with his back to goal. Van 't Schip, who worked with Brobbey at Ajax in the 2023/2024 season, recalled that Brobbey scored 18 times in 26 matches. Van 't Schip also said referees often whistle against Brobbey, but during the Sweden match he was consistently favored. He warned that continued whistle bias could work against him and advised Brobbey to vary his movement, citing the speed shown in his first goal against Sweden.