World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Koeman remains cautious ahead of Netherlands matches | OneFootball

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·4 September 2025

World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Koeman remains cautious ahead of Netherlands matches

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World Cup 2026 qualifiers: Koeman remains cautious ahead of Netherlands matches

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The Oranje head coach, Ronald Koeman, expressed caution on the eve of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Lithuania.

Despite having a full squad available, Koeman believes his team is not yet completely ready. "We still need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s," he said during Wednesday’s press conference. The coach emphasized the importance of continuity and the experience gained since the European Championship:

It’s a fantastic group. The players want to build something together. The match against Spain was an excellent test for us.

Koeman nonetheless reminded everyone that the real test will be the World Cup itself:

We are part of Europe’s elite, but to truly know where we stand, we need to play against the best teams in the world. With many players competing in the Premier League, we are also progressing as a team.

The Netherlands will face Poland in their first game of the European double-header, and Koeman is hoping his side will find the right balance between experience and fresh blood to secure qualification.

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