Oranje back to the level of a decade ago.

The 2010 World Cup Final was the peak moment for Dutch 21st century football. The team with Sneijder, Robben and other tenth stars lost only to Barcelona in the Spanish national team shirts. Then no one could even imagine that in two years the national team would lose all three matches at the Euro-2012 in Poland and Ukraine, and after six and eight years, respectively, did not qualify for the Euro-2016 in France and the World Cup 2018 in Russia. The 2014 Brazilian World Cup and bronze medals in this series are the exception. The Netherlands entered the downward phase of the life cycle precisely after that very same Iniesta goal in extra time.

The cycle to the tournament in Russia was among the most offensive failures in the history of Oranje (the absenteeism from the group with France and Sweden due to the defeat from Bulgaria), but now with a margin compensated by success in the UEFA Nations League. Koeman’s team will definitely stay in the top division, but this is not the most important thing: young stars are growing in Holland, retired players are being resurrected, and a generation change is being completed.

The era of veterans who took the medals at the world championships logically ended with a rollback to the class of top teams who are remembered only because of the name and past regalia. In this regard, "Oranje" go in parallel with the Italian national team. Stage of purification absenteeism at the World Cup passed, by the way, and those and others.

Now there is no pressure on the young (the oldest player in the base for the match with France - 31-year-old Ryan Babel), and from this he flourishes with double speed. There are only three top clubs players in the national team, and Jasper Cillessen belongs to those with a fair stretch, but this does not prevent the Dutch from crushing Germany and executing world champions. The average age of the team at the same time tends to the kindergarten area.

World champions in almost perfect equipment built only two shots on target, none of which brought Cillessen at least some problems, and did not make a single worthwhile attack. The main protagonist of the meeting was Memphis Depay. A man was methodically killed by a huge salary in Manchester and the style of MU, and then there was Lyon, which reanimated the career of perhaps the most talented player in the generation. Memphis returned feints, passes and goals for the second year in France, and now has become a full-fledged leader of the "weavers" A vigorous start in Ligue 1, scoring two last world champions in two games in a row - it seems that Depay will soon follow the path of Mariano.

If the general public has known Memphis for a long time, then with perhaps the best midfielder of the world in the short term, she has yet to meet. In the summer, Frenkie De Jong excited Barcelona, Real, Manchester City and another ten European top clubs, but remained in Ajax for the purpose of gradual development.

The decision benefited: the accuracy of Frenkie passes does not fall below 90% in any tournament, and he also gives about 0.9 key passes per game and makes 2 selections on average per game. The match with France was no exception. De Jong selected in the N’Golo Kante style and passed at the usual cosmic level.

Amsterdam people have pleasant prospects for reaching the playoffs of the Champions League, which means that the grandees will have to give ten extra millions to De Jong to 40 million registered on the Transfermarkt.

The disclosure of the Ajax midfielder is promoted by a scheme typical of Dutch football. Koeman's 4-3-3 are not distinguished by serious innovations, but they allow the Netherlands to control the ball at the level of City and Barcelona, even without having such performers. 60% in the match against France is a familiar thing because of the style of Deschamps team, but in the first half the figures rose to 75%, with possession carried out in the attacking thirds. The new Holland has a pleasant combination and attacking style.

"Oranje" go the right way and return the principles that made them one of the main European teams. The restructuring and change of generations has passed, so do not be surprised if the Netherlands in Qatar-2022 again jump into the top 3.