Netherlands coach Ronaldo Koeman has left no doubt about the position of Inter Milan wingback in the Oranje squad.
The coach in a press conference ahead of the Dutch national side’s EURO 2024 qualifier against France, as reported by FCInterNews, praising the 27-year-old Nerazzurri player and making clear that he has an important role in the national team.
Dumfries has featured regularly for the Netherlands for a couple years now.
The Dutchman had initially broken into his national team while playing for PSV.
It was at EURO 2020 that Dumfries really caught the eye of many football fans. He put in several outstanding displays down the right for the Oranje even as they disappointingly exited the tournament at the round of sixteen stage.
That was the summer in which Dumfries joined Inter.
The Nerazzurri made the move for the Dutchman as the replacement for Achraf Hakimi.
Then, in the most recent World Cup, Dumfries once again shone. Particularly in his match against the United States, the Inter wingback showed what he can do in attack.
At the start of this season, Dumfries has once again held down a regular starting role on the right flank for Inter.
And as Koeman has made perfectly clear, he will also keep his place for the national team.
Netherlands Coach Ronald Koeman Makes Clear Denzel Dumfries Still The Starter
One player who could give Dumfries some competition for his spot on the right for the Netherlands is Bayer Leverkusen wingback Jeremie Frimpong.
The 22-year-old has been a big part of Leverkusen’s flying start to the current season.
And Koeman fielded a question about whether it could be Frimpong who starts against France.
Considering that Frimpong plays an attacking role in a 3-4-3 setup at club level, Koeman said that “It’s possible that we could use that formation.”
“I think that he could play well in either formation. Even if his defensive qualities are not tested very often.”
Then the Oranje coach made clear that “Dumfries obviously doesn’t deserve any doubts about his position in the team.”