With his starting place in the 1-1 draw away to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Nations League on Tuesday night, Justin Kluivert earned his first Dutch cap in six years.
After sharp form in the Premier League with Bournemouth has seen him register four goal involvements in 11 games so far this term, the winger was trusted by Ronald Koeman. Although the result perhaps lacked importance with the second-placed Dutch having already qualified, the feeling wasn’t lost on Kluivert as he spoke to ESPN.
“It’s an honour to wear the shirt. Hopefully, I’ll be able to wear it more often. (…) I thought I was reasonable. I could do more, but I was searching. You hardly know each other. You feel that on the field, so that’s difficult. You try to give everything, but unfortunately, that didn’t work out.”
The 25-year-old Kluivert, who played two international matches in 2018, started in Zenica on the right wing – complementing Brian Brobbey up front and personal friend Noa Lang on the opposite flank. In midfield, Joshua Zirkzee was given a chance as an attacking midfielder.
While the winger’s inclusion showed glimpses of positivity, former player and pundit Hans Kraay Jr. saw a clear point in which the wide playmaker needs to improve:
“The trainers he’s had have all been charmed by him as a footballer, but not by his performance. He scores about 5/6 per year and gets 5/6 assists. That makes him questionable.”
That said though, the analyst saw a future for Kuivert in orange.
“He is a right-footed winger. At his club, he regularly plays at ten, but also on the left. On the left, we have Cody Gakpo, Noa Lang and Xavi Simons. So he can forget that position. He has to concentrate on the right-wing position. Since Sjaak Swart (31 appearances, 10 goals) retired, we have had a bit of a problem there.”
Regardless of the somewhat critical analysis, Kluivert’s self-belief and pride was unwavering. From the same words with ESPN:
”I am really happy with my starting debut. On to more, I will say. I have experienced a lot in the six years that I have been there (out of the team), but I have always continued to believe in myself. I have never given up hope. I knew that I could do it and I have continued to work hard. And today I get the chance again, that is nice.”
