Marten De Roon has said the Netherlands lack the fierce winning mentality of the Argentines, citing his Roma team-mates as an example, in an interview with Ziggo Sport about his experience at the World Cup with the Dutch national team. The midfielder, who is on Roma's books, spoke at length about his unexpected call-up.
De Roon recalled a brief conversation with Koeman in March, when the coach told him he was not in his plans for that month but that he could keep the possibility of a call-up in mind should something happen ahead of the World Cup, without giving any guarantees. The midfielder said he had often been linked with the squad in the press when players were missing or injured, but did not count on it. He had played almost every match for Atalanta since 2024, and so he was not thinking about it much. He told Koeman: "Mister, I'm focusing on working on myself. If you need me, I have never said goodbye to the national team and I am not in a position to do so. So, if you need me, I'm there, but make your choices."
De Roon said he did not go on holiday after the season, wanting to be ready. When the phone rang and it was Koeman, he realised it could be very positive news. The call was quick: Koeman asked him how he felt, whether he was in form, and whether he had doubts. De Roon said he had not expected anything so as to avoid disappointment. Koeman replied: "Well, for me there are no doubts, come with us." De Roon said the smile that followed stayed on his face until the 120 minutes against Morocco.
Comparing his mindset with 2022, when he expected to play and perform, De Roon said he approached this tournament differently: "If I can play and help the team, very gladly, but if I can do it in another way that's fine too." He said he had been told he was important to the group for how he behaves off the pitch and as a person, and that he simply tried to bring positive energy. Knowing his role, he said he could be very useful if things became complicated and the defence needed to be shored up. He added: "Unfortunately not with the result we hoped for, but I really appreciated every single moment."
De Roon also praised the organisation of the tournament in the United States, despite some negativity beforehand. He described a hotel with an area reserved for the squad, with a gym, table tennis and games, and an excellent training centre where the squad trained at what he believed was the Kansas City women's team centre, with pitches in perfect condition in a real football city. He said fans were happy to see the players in the streets and that the group atmosphere was fantastic.
Looking ahead under Xavi, De Roon said he had watched two of the four matches and the Netherlands had done well. He praised the performance against Germany and the second half away to Greece, saying he saw Xavi's influence and that the team had quality. He said what was missing was the fierce conviction Argentines have to go beyond their limits. Pointing to Roma, he named Molina, Dybala and Castro as Argentines in the squad, and said: "Off the pitch they are sociable, but when they play they transform themselves to win." He concluded that if the team developed more cohesion alongside its talent, it would eventually win.
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Roma midfielder Marten De Roon has said the Netherlands lack the fierce winning mentality of the Argentines, citing his Roma team-mates Molina, Dybala and Castro as examples. He made the comments in an interview with Ziggo Sport about his World Cup experience with the Dutch national team. He said the Dutch have quality but are missing that drive to go beyond their limits, adding that the Argentines are sociable off the pitch but "transform themselves to win" when they play.
Retesport gives the most detail on his call-up. It reports that Koeman had told him in March he was not in his plans but could be considered if something happened before the World Cup. De Roon said he did not take a holiday after the season so he would be ready, and that he had not expected the call, to avoid disappointment. Retesport also says he watched two of the Netherlands' four matches under Xavi, praised the tournament's organisation in the United States, and said the team did not reach the result it had hoped for, though he valued every moment.
Forza Roma focuses instead on De Roon's standing at Roma, describing him as an important figure praised for his leadership, his hundreds of recovered balls and his working relationship with Gasperini. It also says he has been called up again by the national team. Forza Roma frames his remarks as criticism of the Dutch side, while Retesport presents them as a comparison, and only Retesport gives the detailed account of the call-up.
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