Updated 11.16 | Published 11.02
Sweden meets the world’s tallest people.
It has its quirks.
– The Netherlands are incredibly strong there, says Benjamin Nygren.
183.78 centimeters.
That is the average height of a Dutch man.
– I’ve heard that they have the world’s third longest average length? They have so many strong main players, says Benjamin Nygren.
It’s worse than that, Nygren. The country actually has the longest population in the world. Of course, it gives an advantage in fixed situations – which the Netherlands benefited from through Virgil van Dijk (195 centimeters) in the opener against Japan.
The problem for Orange is that the other big defenders – Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven – are not at all the same threat in the air as Virgil van Dijk. Something they also received criticism for in their home country.
On the other hand, the Liverpool star goes a long way…
Van Dijk’s sick statistics
Namely, Virgil van Dijk is one of the world’s best main players and showed it clearly by nodding a ball in childishly easily in the WC premiere. The 34-year-old has thus scored 41 (!) headed goals in his club team career – and is the Premier League defender who has scored the second most goals with his head after John Terry. For the Netherlands, nine of his thirteen goals have been headed in.
Is he still the best centre-back in the world?
– He is a fantastic centre-back who has done incredibly well for many years. He has been and still is one of the world’s best centre-backs. There are many slopes out there, and it’s hard to say which one is the best. But we know what power he has in fixed situations, how good he is in the main game and how many goals he scores that way, says Sweden’s defense general Victor Nilsson Lindelöf.
Van Dijk’s strength is extra worrying for Sweden, who conceded a header against Tunisia – one of the few negative messages from the premiere.
– Van Dijk is absolutely world class. Check the statistics how many goals he scores via corners and free kicks. It is something we must avoid giving away too easily, says Sweden’s left back Gabriel Gudmundsson.
Sweden’s plan? To avoid “unnecessary” free kicks in one’s own half as much as possible.
– Of course you think about it. We should not pull anyone’s shirt in those areas, and try to avoid blocking the ball so that it goes to the corner. A little trick is required. But at the same time: rather that the ball goes to the corner than that the opponent gets to step into the field, says Gudmunsson.
Sweden has the world’s best
At the same time, Alexander Bernhardsson believes that Sweden also have an advantage in fixed situations, and that Blågult are well equipped in that respect. Not least when the team has Andreas Georgson in charge, one of the world’s best specialists in corners, throw-ins and free kicks.
– I think we have done an incredibly good job on the fast. We practice it before every match and will be ready regardless of the opposition. We have our principles.
Which players are most important there?
– Gustaf Lagerbielke is incredibly sharp offensively and defensively. This also applies to Vigge (Nilsson Lindelöf) and Isak Hien. In addition to that, we also have someone like Viktor Gyökeres.
BET THE ENTIRE WC – COMPETE FOR GREAT PRIZES IN THE WC PROPHET
