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Willem van Hanegem Defends Guus Til Amid Netherlands Criticism: “It’s Different Every Time”

Subhojyoti Basu · Roundtable Sports

Wed, Oct 7, 2026 ·

4 min read

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Willem van Hanegem has criticised the rapid changes in public opinion surrounding the Netherlands national team, using Guus Til , Joey Veerman and Virgil van Dijk as examples.

The Netherlands have now played their first matches under Xavi Hernandez, winning twice and drawing twice. The new national team coach has handed opportunities to several PSV-linked players, with Ruben van Bommel making his debut, Til featuring prominently and former PSV midfielder Veerman returning to the squad after two years away.

However, Van Hanegem believes the reaction to individual performances has become too extreme, particularly after the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Greece.

Xavi admitted that he had initially made the wrong call by leaving Til out of his first squad [REUTERS]

Van Hanegem Defends Til

Til was heavily discussed after the match in Thessaloniki, having started before being replaced during the game.

For Van Hanegem, the midfielder's treatment highlights how quickly expectations can change.

"Just look at the debate about Guus Til alone. He always had to be included, he had to be in the World Cup squad; look at how much depth Guus has, I know all that," Van Hanegem wrote in his Algemeen Dagblad column.

He then pointed to the reaction following Til's appearance against Serbia in Belgrade.

"Then he comes up short against Serbia in Belgrade, takes the ball badly, and in the end he can only just get it with the tip of his shoe at Meerdink. That makes a great goal, and then I hear everywhere again: great, isn't it, that Guus, what a crucial thing again, you've got to take him along always."

Even Xavi admitted that he had initially made the wrong call by leaving Til out of his first squad.

But after the Greece match, the narrative changed again.

"Against Greece you see Til a bit lost, running back and forth in Thessaloniki and then he has to come off again, according to the people," Van Hanegem said.

Joshua Zirkzee has been in and out of the Dutch squad [REUTERS]

Veerman and Zirkzee Also Under the Microscope

Van Hanegem believes the same pattern appears in the discussion surrounding Veerman .

The former PSV midfielder returned to the Netherlands squad after two years away and has quickly become part of the debate surrounding the national team's midfield.

"Could it really be that a player in whom Koeman no longer had any interest suddenly makes the big difference between a mediocre Oranje and a resplendent Oranje?" Van Hanegem asked.

"It varies with him. I want that kid everything, you know, but this is what you get from him as a player."

The former Netherlands international also mentioned Joshua Zirkzee, whom he considers one of the most technically gifted strikers.

"And then Joshua Zirkzee: in terms of technique, one of the best strikers I know. It's difficult for a player when, one time, you're the missing puzzle piece and, the next time, you're considered not good enough for two years. That's how it sometimes works."

Van Dijk has gone on to earn 100 international caps for the Dutch national team [REUTERS]

Van Dijk's Journey Offers a Warning

Van Hanegem concluded by pointing to the career of Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk as an example of how quickly perceptions can change.

"Even Virgil van Dijk once had trouble getting into the Netherlands team. Louis van Gaal wasn't charmed; with Jong Oranje, they even preferred Mike van der Hoorn, and that's no joke," he said, as quoted by PSV Inside .

Van Dijk has since gone on to earn 100 international caps, something Van Hanegem believes should serve as a lesson for the younger players now coming through.

"He can tell the young boys in Oranje: don't let all those experts mess with you. On Thursday, you're the future of the Netherlands, and on Sunday they should never call you up again."

For Van Hanegem, the debate around Til, Veerman and the wider Netherlands squad is ultimately a reminder of how quickly football opinion can turn. His message is clear: young players should not allow short-term criticism or praise to define their development.

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