The group stages of Euro 2024 are over and the real quality begins ahead of the knockout stages.
A total of four Tottenham Hotspur players set off to Germany with their respective nations for the European Championships.
And all four players – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg of Denmark, Italy’s number two Guglielmo Vicario, Netherlands star Micky van de Ven and Romania’s fan favourite Radu Dragusin are still in the competition.
Tottenham duo van de Ven and Dragusin will lock horns on July 2, whilst Hojbjerg has the tricky test of facing co-hosts Germany and Italy were pitted against Switzerland.
Two of those players are certain starters – Hojbjerg and Dragusin – whilst Vicario is an understandable back-up option to Euro 2020 winner, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
But the Netherlands, and in particular their manager Ronald Koeman, have decided against handing starts to van de Ven.
The Spurs speedster has come off the bench for two of the three games, with Danny Murphy shocked that he isn’t starting.
No Upcoming Fixtures
The former midfielder labelled van de Ven as a ‘super talent’ and how he is someone who has a ‘big future’ ahead of him, as he told Match of the Day on BBC One.
Aside from the 22-year-old spending a few months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, he was one of his side’s best players and a real find for the Premier League in his debut campaign.
Yet, Murphy can’t understand why he isn’t starting for his nation, who lost their last group game 3-2 to Austria and aren’t exactly looking strong from a defensive aspect.
Micky van de Ven at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands
“He is clever Arnautovic, he is playing on (Stefan) de Vrij sometimes because he knows that he is stronger than him,” said Murphy. “You can’t really outmuscle (Virgil) van Dijk. But de Vrij is getting bullied.
“I am still surprised I haven’t seen that the Dutch don’t play with van de Ven and van Dijk at centre-half. I know de Vrij is a good player.
“But he doesn’t have that same athleticism. That ability to recover. He has a big future ahead of him, van de Ven. A super talent.”
Micky van de Ven at Tottenham next season
Spurs started the season like a house on fire and were rightfully sitting top of the Premier League table after ten games.
Then van de Ven’s hamstring injury, along with James Maddison also going off, played a part in the team’s collapse and their season went off track.
READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou hails Euro 2024 winger, he’s on Tottenham’s transfer radar
Now and again, they could bring it back, but they simply weren’t consistent enough.
You feel a fully fit van de Ven starting 35 games+ in the Premier League is going to be one of the key pieces in what happens to Postecoglou and his players next season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
