Joris Mathijsen: "Don't worry about the defense"

Monday, 14 June 2010

In the friendlies against Ghana and Hungary the Dutch defense looked a bit insecure at times. And the back four will surely be tested against Denmark as well, even though their top man, Nicklas Bendtner of Arsenal is out with a groin injury. But Joris Mathijsen, the man who calls the shots at the back, is full of confidence. "We've got things sorted out pretty well."

The goals that Holland conceded in the pre-tournament matches were largely due to a lack of communication, and though Mathijsen understands that communication between the defenders is key it shouldn't be exaggerated: "Certain things are demanded on my position. And you act ac

Joris Mathijsen of HSV Hamburg

cording to that. You shouldn't talk about that too much. When the feeling is good it all happens automatically. It's so with André (Ooijer, df) and it's so with John (Heitinga, df).”

So the two goals against Ghana and Hungary do not worry Mathijsen. "We've got things sorted out pretty well. You don't only defend with the back four, but with the entire team, as we play far away from our own goals."

But still the ball was in the back of the net behind Maarten Stekelenburg within five minutes against Hungary. "I don't want to reflect on each and every goal, because that's what happens in football. Dzsudzsak is not just any player. He has certain qualities. Usually he wouldn't get in that position so easily, because opponents have to go quite a distance to get to our goal. But sometimes a lucky shot falls in the right place, like it did against Hungary."

"We know what went wrong on that goal. But it's no use to make a lot of noise about that here. We just try to improve and do better next time. But as I said: we've got things sorted pretty well. When you score four or five goals every match, with offensive football, you know you are taking a few more risks at the back. We could drop back a bit, like Italy does, but that's just not our game."

That's why Mathijsen likes to emphasize that defending starts up front. "We defend with 11 players. When those guys up front don't put pressure on the build up of the opponents it makes things more difficult for us at the back. But so far they have been doing that very well, apart from certain moments. Ghana are at the World Cup and Mexico beat Italy... So to get those results against these teams isn't that bad."