Frenkie de Jong rebuts criticism after 5-1 win over Sweden

After the Oranje's 5-1 triumph over Sweden, midfielder Frenkie de Jong sharply rebuked critics who, in his view, lack basic football understanding. Journalist Valentijn Driessen, who had recently critiqued De Jong's role for De , responded in the Kick‑off podcast, saying he did not feel personally targeted. De Jong, speaking after the victory, said, "I have the feeling that many people actually understand nothing about football. They watch, but they do not see." He made the comments without confirming whether they referred to Driessen's earlier statements. Driessen clarified on Kick‑off that he was not directly addressed, but he grasped the midfielder's point. He recalled De Jong's early days at Ajax, noting that "since the Ajax first‑team days it was all hosanna". According to Driessen, the criticism targets De Jong's functioning within the Oranje rather than his technical ability. He added that he consistently described De Jong as a fine footballer who still needs to produce more.

Koeman keeps reshaping Oranje attack despite 5-1 win over Sweden

Driessen observed that against Sweden the Oranje created numerous chances and gave away space, lacking collective pressure. He highlighted that both De Jong and defender Virgil van Dijk bear significant responsibility for those shortcomings. He recalled a moment when Van Dijk urged the team to retreat while De Jong insisted on applying pressure. Driessen argued that such mixed messages create a problem because a squad requires a single shared mindset.

Ten Cate backs De Jong despite flaws: 'No better alternative for Oranje'

The De journalist had previously suggested that national coach Ronald Koeman might signal his displeasure by benching De Jong. De Jong's post‑match reaction, however, focused on the broader criticism rather than the specific suggestion. The discussion was featured on Studio Oranje, which examines surprising performances and strong personalities within the Dutch national team.