Joey Veerman shines at Dortmund, but his passes remain unused

In the Mercedes‑Benz‑Arena, 28 minutes after the kick‑off, referee Tobias Stieler blew the whistle and awarded a free kick to Borussia Dortmund. Joey Veerman, the proud Bundesliga leader, was ready to make his first big breakthrough, but the ball floated only a few metres over the goal.

Stadium and tactics

The Mercedes‑Benz‑Arena, filled with thousands of supporters, gave Dortmund a home advantage. Coach Niko Kovac instructed his team to play long from the goal kicks and look for the second ball. Stuttgart, seen as a Champions‑League opponent of PSV, applied pressure with one‑on‑one attacks across the whole field.

Veerman’s rise at Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund secured their fourth consecutive competitive match on Saturday evening with a 0‑1 victory over VfB Stuttgart. Veerman was awarded a free kick, but his curled ball went over the goal and did not give them the lead. Shortly afterwards he took his team's first corner, a sign that coach Niko Kovac has confidence in his dead‑ball moments.

The 25‑year‑old German international, who left PSV in the summer, started for the third consecutive match in the starting eleven. Kovac links him centrally to Felix Nmecha, with Veerman dictating the build‑up from the back. Despite his attacking effort, Dortmund continues to struggle to build danger.

Role with the Netherlands under Xavi

National team coach Xavi has recalled Veerman for the national side and wants to use him and Teun Koopmeiners alternately as a controlling midfielder, the ‘6’. Peter Bosz, who introduced the idea in 2023, said at the time: “I see a 6 in you”, because he wants someone who distributes balls behind the last line of opponents.” Xavi left Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst out of the first squad, giving Veerman more space.

Moments of criticism and substitution

After the break Veerman committed a foul on Angelo Stiller and received a yellow card. Coach Kovac took him off after 62 minutes and brought on Jobe Bellingham. Bellingham delivered a measured pass to Maximilian Beier, who scored the only goal of the match.

The report, written by Maarten Wijffels, was last updated at 10:18. With this insight the question remains how Veerman will further develop both in the Bundesliga and with the Netherlands.

The question remains how Veerman will prove himself as a controlling midfielder in the Bundesliga and with the Netherlands. With his growing role in dead‑ball moments and the ability to operate both as a ‘6’ and an ‘8’, he can take a key position. His development is closely monitored by both German and Belgian analysts.