Tottenham Hotspur will have a number of players on show at Euro 2024 with Ange Postecoglou no doubt just hoping they all come through the tournament unscathed.
The Premier League season is over and Tottenham Hotspur have Europa League action to look forward to next season after a fifth-place finish.
Before Ange Postecoglou can even really think about bringing European action back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Spurs manager will be watching his players in international competition.
Copa America will present Cristian Romero, Giovani Lo Celso, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison with opportunities to shine.
Euro 2024 is also on the horizon with Tottenham sending a number of players off with their European countries.
Pedro Porro may have missed out on a spot in the Spain squad but Radu Dragusin, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and James Maddison could feature for their countries.
Ronald Koeman on Micky van de Ven
Then there is Micky van de Ven.
The giant centre back would have perhaps been viewed as a long shot for the Netherlands squad just a year ago.
Van de Ven was showing promise in the Bundesliga but wasn’t one of German football’s absolutely top centre backs before Tottenham signed him last summer.
An impressive debut campaign in the Premier League has seen Van de Ven’s reputation sky-rocket though, and he was given a Dutch debut in October.
After overcoming a couple of injury problems, Van de Ven has now secured his place in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024.
Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen – currently out on loan at Borussia Dortmund – has been surprisingly axed from the squad.
Maatsen has been outstanding in 2024 and is set to play in the Champions League final against Real Madrid this weekend.
Ronald Koeman has left him out of the Netherlands squad though, raising eyebrows in the process.
Koeman has now told Algemeen Dagblad that he went with Van de Ven over Maatsen because he can play in multiple positions.
Koeman seemingly loves that Van de Ven can play at centre back or left back and wants that versatility rather than a specialist left back in Maatsen.
“It was not a difficult conversation with Maatsen. I knew this moment would come. I have tried to explain why in my own way. He’s disappointed, that’s logical. We have several guys in his positions and they are preferred,” said Koeman.
“I have not given any further explanation about the way of playing. I choose other players. Blind is fit, has a lot of experience and has a role in the group. Van de Ven was chosen because of his multi-deployability,” he added.
Van de Ven faces Netherlands competition
We saw Van de Ven feature as a left back in the final two games of Tottenham’s season.
That was in a back four and we would be surprised to see Van de Ven deployed as a wing back in a back five – a system the Netherlands have regularly played in recent years.
If Van de Ven is viewed as a centre back, he faces major competition to get on the pitch at Euro 2024.
Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk is the Netherlands captain and he is surrounded by talented centre backs.
Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt are all in the mix, as is Girona’s Daley Blind.
Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida can also play at centre back if needed, so Van de Ven faces a battle to even get on the pitch.
Koeman clearly values Van de Ven’s quality and versatility though and we could see him in action this summer as Chelsea talent Maatsen is left reeling.
READ MORE: Get to know Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven, from his career stats to his top speed