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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 04/10/2026

Our starting formation tonight, and how it changes when we have possession.

Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 04/10/2026

How we line up tonight! Koopmeiners the standout choice. He may play as a CB next to Van Dijk, but I think given the LB becomes a LCB in possession and he's played that position for Juventus, that's more likely. Another possibility is Xavi playing a 343 diamond from the start.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 02/10/2026

Really interesting analysis of the change Xavi made from a box midfield to a diamond midfield to turn things around against Greece, for those with VI PRO. vi.nl/pro/tactisch...

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 01/10/2026

📸 The shape that we played in the last 15 minutes of the match Just three defenders, with one being an extremely attacking player, and a 3-4-3 diamond that Cruyff was renowned for. Say what you will about Xavi, but he's living up to his promise of bringing back the Dutch way 😅

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 01/10/2026

How we line up tonight! Really exciting lineup. A very young front three, and a new-look midfield, which I'm glad to see given that Gravenberch and Reijnders haven't been great.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 27/09/2026

Asides from two strong results, 5.93 xG from our first two matches under Xavi is so so good, especially considering we faced one top nation and one very defensive team away from home. There's work to be done defensively, but in attack, the early signs are incredibly positive.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 27/09/2026

Great result! Flashscore's data-based player ratings - fair?

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 27/09/2026

How we line up tonight! Two changes from Xavi's first starting XI, with Veerman replacing Q. Timber and Meerdink coming in for the injured Brobbey.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 24/09/2026

Progressive passes tonight: 2 in 90 mins from Gravenberch, 1 in 57 mins from Timber, 10 in 33 mins from Veerman. Key passes: 1 from Gravenberch, 0 from Timber, 4 from Veerman. Accurate long passes: : 1 from Gravenberch, 1 from Timber, 4 from Veerman.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 24/09/2026

Literally one minute between me posting this and Van Bommel crossing from the left for Gakpo to score on the right 😂 Fair to say Xavi's big call paid off tonight!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 24/09/2026

📸 Our first starting XI under Xavi Not a huge fan to be honest. Really don't like Van de Ven at LB, and I think that midfield three really lacks creativity and variety. Hope I'm wrong!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 18/09/2026

Going by the squad, this is what I think Xavi's potential plans could be, in terms of a starting XI and backups. 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 are both possibilities, as he said in his first press conference.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 30/08/2026

This is what I'd guess our starting XI will be next month & what it will be once the injured players are back & Xavi has had some time to get to know his team. Read more about why I think the team on the right will become his first-choice XI here: www.clockworkoranje.com/p/xavi-nethe...

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 29/08/2026

Wow, what a Bundesliga debut for Thijs Dallinga!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 13/08/2026

My ranking of the coaches who were linked with the Oranje job throughout the process. The KNVB really, really dropped the ball by not contacting Bosz before he signed a new PSV deal. However, given the others above Xavi weren't interested, I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 12/08/2026

Official! Bring on the Xavi era!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 02/08/2026

Preparing to enter a week in which Michael Reiziger will probably be announced as the new Netherlands manager

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 15/07/2026

Both in terms of having your manager go way way way too defensive and having your hearts broken by Argentina, you have our sympathy England fans...

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 10/07/2026

As a bonus, he played under Johan Cruyff and cites him as a big influence. Sure, his final period coaching Barcelona wasn't good, but he's done well since then. Worth considering?

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 10/07/2026

The KNVB want someone who will play a high-intensity style, with covering more distance a particular desire, & someone who can lead a team to overcome years of trauma & finally win their first major trophy since the 80s. An option who's done exactly that is Ernesto Valverde.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 07/07/2026

One potential surprise candidate now we know what the KNVB are looking for: Roger Schmidt - Plays the high-intensity football they want - Would make a long-term commitment - Has worked in the Netherlands - Was considered by the KNVB when they needed a coach in 2017

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 30/06/2026

Indeed 😂 And try to be a little more friendly, this isn't twitter!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 30/06/2026

📸 How Oranje line up tonight. Our first time playing a back three/five in years, in our biggest match in years. Will it pay off?

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 25/06/2026

📸 How we line up for our clash with Tunisia! The big news is that Ake comes in for Van de Ven, which is a change I've wanted for quite a while. Happy with that and that we're playing our strongest side. Wanted Summerville to start ahead of Malen though.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 20/06/2026

De Jong starts and Brobbey comes in! Not too happy that Summerville has been dropped rather than Malen, but excited to see Brobbey from the off.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 17/06/2026

Van Nistelrooy getting a lot of praise from the players and coverage in the press right now, something to think about in terms of who could replace Koeman after the World Cup...

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 14/06/2026

📸 The Netherlands starting XI vs Japan Malen gets the nod up front, while Verbruggen is fit enough to start.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 08/06/2026

Malen has no goals from these chances across the last two games 💀

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 08/06/2026

📸 How we line up tonight With Timber now out, this is probably how we'll line up against Japan, unless Memphis can prove his fitness. I'm pretty happy with it, but would prefer Kluivert to Gravenberch with Reijnders deeper.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 04/06/2026

Would like to see this lineup on Monday. - I prefer a midfield of De Jong, Reijnders and a proper number 10 to those two and Gravenberch - Kluivert & Brobbey would be a good combo - It'd be good to see how Malen does out wide and how Summerville compares to Gakpo on the left

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 04/06/2026

Oranje's record in Koeman's second spell against nations currently ranked inside the world's... Top 10: 0 wins, 2 draws, 7 losses Top 20: 0 wins, 2 draws, 9 losses Top 30: 2 wins, 3 draws, 11 losses

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 03/06/2026

🚨Summerville makes his debut! The West Ham man starts on the right tonight with Malen up front and Wieffer at RB. Exciting XI!

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 02/06/2026

FIFA have confirmed that we'll wear our home shirt with orange shorts against Japan, and our home shirt with black shorts against Tunisia and Sweden. It will be the first time we've worn such a combo at a tournament since we beat Brazil at the 2010 World Cup.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 22/05/2026

The 3-0* and 4-1 wins over Italy and France at Euro 2008 were special, as was the 2-1 win over Brazil in 2010, but the 5-1 thrashing of Spain in 2014 was something else... Your favourite Netherlands match ever?

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 02/04/2026

The second podcast of Clockwork Oranje's World Cup coverage is up now! To listen, head over to any major podcast platform or click the link in the post below 👇

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 27/03/2026

Kees Smit starts, wow!! Looks like it'll be either Koopmeiners at RW or a diamond midfield.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 24/03/2026

And this is how it looks if you include all competitions for those who were playing for a club in one of the top five leagues

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 24/03/2026

Our last 10 home shirts, from 2008 to 2026 - how would you rank them?

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 23/03/2026

Did some research on the decline of Dutch strikers... These are how many we've had score 20+ goals in one of the top five leagues since the turn of the century:

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 22/03/2026

Our new kits have been released! Finally a home shirt with black shorts again. Finally a white away shirt. Very happy with these, a big upgrade on our 2022 WC and Euro 2024 kits.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 06/03/2026

Met our assistant manager (and my absolute childhood hero) tonight 🥲 Should've told him to tell Koeman to stop selecting Weghorst 🤦

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 05/01/2026

The upcoming World Cup will be the first since 2010 in which we wear black shorts with our home kit - it's about time! Things didn't go badly last time we wore them 😏

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 04/01/2026

As per the very reliable Footy Headlines, these are our World Cup kits! I absolutely LOVE them. Our best shirts in a long time 😍😍

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 03/12/2025

Returning on Monday: The Clockwork Oranje Podcast 🙏 Going to be doing the first of a series covering the 2026 World Cup, discussing the group stage draw and looking back on qualifying ✌️

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 17/11/2025

Back to a De Jong/Reijnders duo for tonight, with Timber moving to RB. We'll probably finally use the system we played vs Spain again, with the RCM getting forward and the RB inverting. Don't mind Simons and De Ligt getting chances, but would have preferred Van de Ven over Ake.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 14/11/2025

The first-half stats. Really, really bad performance so far.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 14/11/2025

Our lineup for tonight! Glad to see Kluivert start again, don't love Geertruida being picked but worth it to have Van Dijk and Timber at CB together again.

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 19/10/2025

A shame to see Slot struggling so much right now, but at least our boys aren't to blame 😅

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Clockwork Oranje @clockworkoranje.com · 13/10/2025

Really enjoyed doing this piece, and got some really insights from both coaches on where Reijnders should be played. Take notes Ronald

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