Memphis Depay's Euro 2020 has been hit and miss so far
Memphis readily admits his style of play is high risk and some of his flashy dribbles, back heels and ambitious passes don’t always work. But Dutch coaches and his teammates are happy to take the good with the bad, knowing that he can turn a match in an instant of unorthodox creativity.
Netherlands coach Frank de Boer conceded that Depay has not yet been at his best in the team’s two Group C victories, a 3-2 win over Ukraine followed by Thursday’s victory over Austria.
“Let’s assume that Memphis can only make progress and that in coming matches – when it really matters – he will be the important man,” said De Boer, who pointed out that Depay converted his penalty and his pass set up a run by Donyell Malen that ended with Denzel Dumfries’ second goal of the tournament.
“Of course, he knows he can do better,” De Boer said. “But let’s grow in the tournament and let him save it for the round of 16 and hopefully more rounds after that.”
The last time the Netherlands played in a major soccer tournament, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Depay was a precocious 20-year-old talent largely waiting in the wings behind established forwards Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben.
