Kees Kist points to three Dutch youth players who couldn't take part

In the cold stadium in Dortmund the crowd was on the verge of an outburst when the Netherlands drew 1‑1 with Germany on Thursday. The match featured moments of brilliant play, but the atmosphere was quickly dampened by a critical look from former international Kees Kist.

Transfer to Saudi Arabia under scrutiny

Kist pointed out that Tijjani Reijnders, Crysencio Summerville and Jan‑Paul van Hecke really struggled to get into the game. He suspects that the recent transfers of Reijnders and Summerville to Saudi Arabia this summer are playing a role in their poorer performances.

“Reijnders didn’t shine. That could be related to the club he now plays for. Normally we see a mobile Reijnders, who is untrackable for the opponent. Now he was tame,” Kist explained. He added that the intensity in the “sandbox” – the Saudi competition – is lower than in the Premier League or Spain, where a different level is played each week.

About Summerville Kist said: “Such a youngster is already heading to the sandbox. I understand it all, the offers for him and Reijnders have been gigantic.” He recalled that Summerville was a revelation at the 2026 World Cup, but against Germany he played tame and was less present.

Van Hecke also struggled according to Kist: “Is the situation at his club Tottenham Hotspur playing him against his will? It may be that he has taken that club feeling with him to the Oranje. He appeared uncertain.”

Kist’s analysis underscores how transfers outside Europe can affect the shape and deployability of players in the national team, a point that the coaching staff will undoubtedly have to consider.