Lutsharel Geertruida will want to get back to Sunderland after brutal Dutch media assessment
Lutsharel Geertruida failed to impress in the Netherlands’ 1-1 draw with Poland on Friday.
While Robin Roefs was on the bench, Geertruida was in action for the Netherlands as they missed out on the chance to mathematically secure World Cup qualification.
Qualification still looks certain, though, and Geertruida was given a rare chance in the starting lineup to prove himself in such a key match.
However, he wasn’t at his best, and the Dutch media did not hold back in their assessment of his performance.
Lutsharel Geertruida fails to grab Netherland chance
The Netherlands remain three points above Poland in Group G, with a much better goal difference heading into the last game against Lithuania on Monday.
Geertruida seemed shaky in defence, something that we haven’t been used to seeing at Sunderland.
Football Oranje said: “5/10: Given a chance with Dumfries out, but didn’t take it. Offered little going forward and was caught out by Poland more than once.”
De Telegraaf added that Denzel Dumfries, the Netherlands’ traditional right-back, was sorely missed in defence, and that Geertruida looked out of his depth in a brutal assessment.
| Stat | Lutsharel Geertruida |
| Minutes played | 74 |
| Touches | 65 |
| Ground duels won | 3/5 |
| Aerial duels won | 1/2 |
Geertruida joined Sunderland on loan from RB Leipzig, with buy option clause in excess of £20million included in the deal.
He has settled in well and has slowly adapted to the intensity of the Premier League, playing a huge part in Sunderland’s results against Chelsea and Arsenal.
Regis Le Bris’ excellent back five tactic has benefitted Geertruida’s development, and he is now a mainstay on the right side of defence.
The 25-year-old’s versatility is a huge asset for the Black Cats, and he will definitely prove to be one of the smarter summer signings in the long run.
Lutsharel Geertruida will play a huge part in Sunderland’s ambitions
Geertruida came through the Feyenoord academy, making his first-team breakthrough in 2019-20, and has already garnered a good reputation across Europe.
Despite receiving criticism for his defensive work against Poland, he showed encouraging signs on the ball.
Geertruida registered a pass accuracy of 96 per cent and made 10 passes in the final third, and it’s clear to see that he perhaps had a one-off game when he wasn’t completely flawless.
Sunderland have been defensively solid all season, and Geertruida is starting to make a huge impact on how Le Bris’ side nullifies their opposition’s attack.
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