Frank de Boer has picked the defence that he would play at the World Cup if he was still the Netherlands manager.
De Boer was relieved of his duties as the Oranje head coach by the KNVB after he and his nation crashed out to the Czech Republic in the last 16 of the Euros last year.
He was replaced by Louis van Gaal, who is to lead the team at the World Cup in Qatar after winning 11 and drawing four matches since returning.
The Dutchman has his side playing in a 5-3-2 formation and has taken the somewhat controversial decision of leaving Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij out of his first-choice XI in favour of Jurrien Timber and Nathan Ake.
If De Boer were still in charge though, he’d do the same given their qualities in possession.
“In any case, Timber and Aké, because they fit very well in Louis van Gaal’s system,” he said on Viaplay when asked who he’d play on either side of Virgil van Dijk.
“They are guys who both want to build up. At Manchester City and at Ajax they do nothing else.”
That being said, he still thinks De Ligt and De Vrij could have a part to play in Qatar.
“If you are sometimes pushed back a little more, you need a little more height. Then you can switch Timber for De Vrij or De Ligt,” he added.
