Sneijder urges Oranje to rediscover long-range shooting ahead of Sweden clash

Wesley Sneijder has criticised Oranje’s lack of long-range shooting this year, with the side yet to score from outside the 16-yard box in 2026. The record international made his remarks during a visit to Kansas City, where he attended an Oranje training session. Sneijder, famed for his own long-range strikes, stressed the importance of such goals for tournament success. "You need those goals to go far in a tournament," he said.

Oranje’s long-range drought extends beyond 2026. In the current World Cup qualifying cycle, only five of 62 goals (8%) have come from outside the penalty area. Cody Gakpo has accounted for most of those, including a close-range effort against Japan that narrowly missed the target.

The decline mirrors a broader tactical shift under modern coaching. Oranje’s players are increasingly instructed to prioritise possession and build attacks patiently rather than take speculative shots. Former Oranje coach Ronald Koeman has previously emphasised this approach, urging midfielders to stay higher and let the ball come to them rather than pressing forward.

Sneijder acknowledged the tactical evolution but argued that creativity should not be sacrificed entirely. "If players like Arie Haan or Ronald Koeman had waited for the perfect angle, they would never have become legendary shooters," he said. "You have to shoot to score."

Ruud van Nistelrooy is now working with Oranje’s strikers on shooting technique, including Brian Brobbey. Brobbey, once criticised for his unbalanced shooting style at Ajax, has adjusted his approach under Van Nistelrooy’s guidance. "He’s learning to take smaller steps before striking, keeping his balance," a source said.

The issue is not just technical but tactical. Oranje’s frontline often converges on the ball rather than creating space, leaving little room for long-range attempts. Koeman has previously highlighted this during the recent World Cup qualifiers, noting that midfielders must "stay away" and let the play come to them.

Ryan Gravenberch, who occasionally scores from distance for Liverpool, has struggled to replicate that form for Oranje. Against Japan, he fired over from a promising position. Tijjani Reijnders, Oranje’s most frequent long-range shooter, has yet to score from outside the box in international colours.

Sneijder’s comments come ahead of Oranje’s match against Sweden. He hopes Gakpo will take more risks, though opponents are now familiar with his tendencies. Japan’s defensive structure against Oranje showed how easily such attempts can be nullified if support is lacking.

Van de Ven’s role on the left flank could be crucial. The AZ youth product must push high and draw defenders, creating space for Gakpo to exploit. "He needs help from the full-back," Sneijder noted.

Oranje’s long-range conversion rate peaked between 2010 and 2014, reaching 24% at times. The current 0% in 2026 reflects a stark decline, one Sneijder describes as "creative poverty."