The Netherlands take the field tonight in a friendly against Ecuador, with Ronald Koeman’s side already having secured qualification for the next World Cup. The Dutch team will share a group with Tunisia and Japan, and are awaiting the winner of Sweden and Poland to complete Group F.

The Memphis potential

Speaking ahead of the game in Eindhoven, Ronald Koeman reviewed the current state of his squad and delivered a notable show of support for Memphis Depay. His comments came in response to a journalist suggesting that the Netherlands lack a marquee star on the level of Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, or Cristiano Ronaldo.

“The Netherlands, for example, do not have Mbappé, Kane, Ekitiké, Olise, Álvarez, Messi or Ronaldo. Partly because of injuries, Depay has never been able to show his true level at a major tournament. If he’s fit this summer, he can get close to the level of those elite forwards,” Koeman said.

The Dutch coach insisted that injuries have been the key obstacle preventing Depay from reaching that upper tier.

“It’s simply that injuries have kept holding him back. He needs to work on that; he needs to be fully fit. Ronaldo and Messi are in a different league. A fully fit Memphis is still extremely important. He’s the all-time top scorer for a reason. That says everything,” he added.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.