Driessen accuses Timber of slow play and ball loss

In the studio of the Kick‑off podcast, Valentijn Driessen sounds sharp: he cannot be praised for the play of midfielder Quinten Timber, who started in the lineup against Germany during Xavi’s the Oranje debut. He sharply criticises especially the loss of possession and the slow tempo. “Timber was certainly the worst Dutch player,” says Driessen, adding: “He can bring energy, but it has to be good energy…”. He looks back at the meeting between the Oranje and Die Mannschaft.

Timber, 25 years old and from Crystal Palace, made his fifth start and his fourteenth cap against Germany. Driessen especially points to the loss of the ball and the slow style of play.

In midfield, Timber played alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Tijjani Reijnders.

Substitution after 57 minutes

After 57 minutes, national coach Xavi pulled the 25‑year‑old out and replaced him with Joey Veerman. It was Timber’s fourteenth cap.

Driessen also criticises the overall tempo of the Oranje, stating: “It’s all moving terribly slowly. Even the build‑up, it’s so sluggish and that’s just something that sticks to that team.”

His comments underline a growing concern about the speed and energy of the Dutch national team, a point that Driessen says must be addressed to remain competitive.