Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven is taking his Premier League form onto the international stage while making a ‘really fantastic’ impact during the Netherlands’ 2-1 defeat to France on Friday.
Tottenham’s £34 million summer signing only came off the bench in the 80th minute – replacing Manchester City’s Nathan Ake in Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena – but it certainly didn’t take him long to make his mark.
As France threatened to catch the Netherlands cold on the counter, Micky van de Ven found himself one-v-one with Malo Gusto but made light work of the Chelsea full-back, out-pacing and out-muscling him while barely breaking sweat.
Micky van de Ven a big hit for Tottenham and Netherlands
In one moment, Van de Ven showcased almost all of the attributes that have made him such a big hit under Ange Postecoglou in North London. The searing, almost deceptive pace. The uncompromising strength. And then the composure to pick the right pass at precisely the right time.
“It’s nice when you see how many young players are coming through,” former Holland midfielder Marciano Vink tells Voetbalpraat. “Van de Ven came in really fantastic. Gosh!”
Vink is not the only one who has been taken aback by Van de Ven in recent weeks. A player who arrived at Spurs to relatively little fanfare despite the size of his price-tag, the former Wolfsburg youngster has taken the Premier League by storm at table-topping Tottenham while striking up a partnership with Cristian Romero reminiscent of those Toby Alderweireld – Jan Vertonghen days.
‘A real big surprise’
“Van de Ven has been a real big surprise,” ex-Chelsea, Celtic and Aston Villa forward Tony Cascarino tells talkSPORT, summing up the wider view of arguably the summer’s finest pound-for-pound acquisition.
“I say ‘surprise’ because you have to give credit to the football club for the recruitment.
“Most people know, he was known as the quickest defender in German football with Wolfsburg. With that, he is a talented boy on the ball. Looks incredibly assured.”
Van de Ven scored his first Tottenham goal before the international break, the winner at Luton Town.
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