Frenkie de Jong responds to criticism: "Many don't understand football"

Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch national team midfielder, came under fire during the World Cup. Critics accused him of lacking risk in the game, which de Jong strongly rejected. In an interview with Dutch television SBS6, he said: "I have the impression that many people do not understand football. They watch it but do not fully understand it." The Barcelona midfielder emphasized that he is often accused of missing through balls, which, in his opinion, is due to the audience's misunderstanding of the pitch situation. "A through pass depends on the context of the game and the moment. Sometimes, even when I make such a pass, the ball lands at the goalkeeper," de Jong explained.  De Jong's words were a response to criticism, among others. Wim Kief, a legend of Dutch football, who said that de Jong focused too much on possession of the ball. Rafael van der Vaart, a former Dutch national team player, also expressed his dissatisfaction with the attitude of team captain Virgil van Dijk after the match against Japan. Van der Vaart compared van Dijk's maneuverability to a "Boeing 747", prompting a reaction from Jürgen Klopp. The Liverpool boss defended his former player, questioning the value of van der Vaart's opinion, saying: "If he ever says something positive about any player then I will consider taking him seriously again." These discussions show how criticism in the world of football can be complicated and often subjective. De Jong emphasized that in the Netherlands there is a lack of greater appreciation for players, and criticism is sometimes exaggerated and only serves to attract attention. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Iraks Trainer macht Scherz: Gegen Mbappé braucht man "drei Torhüter"](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/iraks-trainer-macht-scherz-gegen-mbappe-braucht-man-drei-torhuter) 2. [World Cup 2026](https://mannschaftgoal.com/de/news/belgien-ist-enttauscht-nach-remis-gegen-den-iran-aber-das-vertrauen-bleibt-wir-kommen-weiter)