Flashscore spoke with Frank de Boer in Marbella at a padel tournament for former footballers.
You retired years ago, but you never left sports, now playing a lot of padel, and your family is full of footballers, even a referee (one of your sons-in-law, Joey Kooij, is one). Do you still follow football passionately?
"Yes, I follow it a lot, especially now with the World Cup, which is a tournament everyone wants to watch."
I imagine you're eager to see what the Netherlands can do. How do you see your national team?
"We have a good team, but we are not one of the favourites. I think we could reach the quarter-finals. I know that other countries don't want to face us because we're a team that can play fantastic football at times, but I think we're a bit inconsistent.
"And in a tournament like this, you can't have a bad day. Maybe in the group stage you can, but usually, after that, you can't. And to play three or four really good matches... I haven't seen that much in recent years with the national team."
What do you think is missing, maybe a star like before, a striker like Marco van Basten who would score everything?
"Well, I think so. We're missing a striker that other countries have, but for example, Spain usually doesn't have a striker either. A striker like Harry Kane or someone like that, we don't have in Holland. Memphis Depay is a good player, but he's not an 'out-and-out striker'.
"He always looks for his space. Other players can use that space, but I think our forwards have quality, just not the finishing quality of players like Kylian Mbappe, Raphinha, all these players, or like Kane.
"But we are a team, and I always say it's important to play as a team. Teams win titles; players win matches. I'm sure we'll be a team, and that's always very important."
So we can say that this Netherlands side is very different from the one we've always seen, cheerful, entertaining, attacking...
"We have entertaining players like Frenkie de Jong and midfielders who play well, but I think we don't have stars up front. Virgil van Dijk is a star as a defender. I think the defence is very solid: Jurrien Timber is doing very well, Denzel Dumfries and Micky van de Ven are players at a high level. The goalkeeper is good, in front are De Jong, Tijani Reijnders, Ryan Gravenberch... But up front is where I have my concern."
And what about the other rivals?
"I think France, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and England are also, for me, the most dangerous countries. And maybe Morocco, who have a good team now."
That's what I was going to say, there are African teams that seem to be progressing well, like the one you mentioned, Morocco.
"Yes, and Senegal too. They have good quality and have shown they can beat big countries. We're going to see some teams that aren't the usual ones."
Spain's 'Lamine dependence'
How do you see Spain?
"I think it depends on how Lamine Yamal does. They don't have a striker, just like us. They play the typical Spanish football, and it's true that for every country, playing against them is very difficult. But I don't think they are big favourites for me right now. And it also depends on Lamine Yamal, whether he can play or not, because he's a player who can make the difference."
Do you think there's so much dependence that if Lamine is in good form, Spain raise their level, and drop it when he's not?
"Yes, that's right. We talked earlier about stars in the Netherlands, that we're missing them. He is a star. But he has to be in good form to be able to create something. That's quality."
Speaking of Lamine and his quality, I suppose as a former Barcelona player, you've watched and followed Barca's season. What did you think?
"Yes, I've watched them and (they are) very good. They've played in a very entertaining way, also with Lamine and Raphinha. Well, with Raphinha not as much as last year, but Pedri is in incredible form for me. He's one of the best players in the world and plays very well. I love how Dani Olmo is developing now, and Gavi is back. I've really enjoyed watching Barca."
How to win the Champions League
Do you agree with those who say that to win the Champions League, you can't play as offensively as with Hansi Flick?
"I don't know, it depends. When everything is at 100%, it can work. But when someone fails in that system, it's very dangerous.
"Everyone has to be very focused, at 100%. If not, it's very difficult to play so high up the pitch. But people also want to see attractive football. I think that's the most important thing.
"Because I've seen many 0-0 matches that nobody wants to watch. I think when there's a stadium of almost 100,000 (spectators), they're there to enjoy football. And with Barcelona, you usually go to enjoy yourself."
Since you mention enjoying football, in the Champions League final, we saw a PSG that tried to play with the ball and an Arsenal that seemed to just defend. I suppose that final is the example of what you're saying...
"Yes. On the wings, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue are usually the players who can make the difference with a dribble, but Bukayo Saka was always helping on the other side. Also, Leandro Trossard on the other wing. It was very difficult to create anything, and that's why the match was like that.
"And the first goal (by Arsenal) didn't help much either because they could drop back and wait. The semi-finals were fantastic, but I was a bit disappointed by the final. I think in the end the best team won."
Well, we'll see who wins the World Cup. Would you like a Spain-Netherlands final?
"Yes, for sure. A rematch would be very nice."
