Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven featured for the full 90 minutes in the Netherlands’ 1-0 loss to Germany in the Nations League, stepping up as a centre-back in the absence of Virgil van Dijk.
Despite putting in a decent performance, former Spurs star Rafael van der Vaart was critical of van de Ven, suggesting that he doesn’t yet possess the commanding presence of Van Dijk.
Van de Ven partnered with Stefan de Vrij at the centre of the Dutch defence, with the 23-year-old tasked with taking on a leadership role in Van Dijk’s absence.
Statistically, van de Ven had a decent outing, completing 84 out of 92 passes with an accuracy of 91%.
His performance, however, did not escape van der Vaart’s criticism, who highlighted the gap between van de Ven’s contributions and the authoritative influence Van Dijk typically provides.
Van der Vaart: Micky van de Ven is no Van Dijk
Van der Vaart voiced his disappointment with the Netherlands’ overall display, particularly in the first half where Germany dominated proceedings.
The former Tottenham midfielder was especially vocal about the Dutch defence’s struggles without Van Dijk, emphasising that the Liverpool captain’s leadership was sorely missed, leaving van de Ven with big shoes to fill.
Speaking on NOS via Daily Mail, van der Vaart said:
“I don’t easily get ashamed of the Dutch team, but today I did.”
“We attribute so many qualities to them, but it’s completely wrong. You can analyse it, but everything just goes wrong.
“Then we have doubts about the absence of Virgil van Dijk, of course you miss him. All well and good, Micky van de Ven, but this is no Van Dijk.”
Although the Netherlands suffered a defeat, van de Ven’s individual numbers were commendable.
He won 100% of his tackles, contributed with clearances and interceptions, and showed his growing capability at the international level.
However, van der Vaart’s remarks underscore the difference in experience between the established Van Dijk and the emerging van de Ven.
For Tottenham fans, van de Ven’s international performance demonstrates his growing role in both club and country.
Still, early in his career, the Dutchman has time to further develop the leadership qualities that Rafael van der Vaart believes were missing against Germany.
TBH says:
While he may not be as good as Van Dijk, he is not that far off either. He has been putting in consistent performances since joining Tottenham last summer.
His performances have earned him praise from fans and pundits alike, with Jamie O’Hara calling him the best in the world in his position right now.
He has started to attract interest from top clubs as well, with Real Madrid said to be one of the clubs keen on signing him.
