Inter wingback Denzel Dumfries has been showing both the good and the bad side of his game for the Dutch national team so far at this FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
This is the verdict in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who note that the 26-year-old’s Jekyll and Hyde form has been on full display for an Oranje team who have hardly met expectations so far.
On paper, the Dutch are fairly well-placed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup, as they just need a result against hosts Qatar today, who have already been eliminated.
However, the team did not look at their best in their 2-0 opening day win over Senegal despite getting the needed result, whilst they had to hold on at times for a point against a bright Ecuador side in their second match.
The Dutch have particularly looked disjointed in attack, as they barely reached the penalty area against Ecuador.
For Tuttosport, Dumfries has been a prime example of the struggle that the Netherlands have had at this tournament.
The former PSV wingback has undoubtedly been a key player for Inter on numerous occasions since joining in the summer of 2021, as he can be a perfect outlet on his right flank.
This has been on show in flashes for the Netherlands in Qatar, as the 26-year-old’s pace and intelligent movement have allowed him to intermittently receive the ball in threatening areas.
However, technical inconsistency have meant that Dumfries has largely lost the battles down his flank on the whole, particularly against standout Ecuador player Pervis Estupinian.
Ultimately, this will not be an unfamiliar sight to Nerazzurri fans, who have seen plenty of the best of Dumfries this season, but also a few too many performances where he has failed to impact matches.
