The Dutch international is of the view that his PSV Eindhoven club-mate should replace him at the left-back position in the Oranje’s Euro 2012 campaign.
Netherlands left-back, Erik Pieters, has stressed that Jetro Willems should replace him in the Oranje’s first-team at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.
The PSV Eindhoven stopper was said to be Bert van Marwijk’s preffered option down the left side of defence, but an injury at the end of the 2011/12 season ruled the 23-year-old out of the European Championship.
With the former FC Utrecht full-back left out of the Oranje squad for Euro 2012, Willems, Wilfred Bouma and Stijn Schaars are the possible candidates to fill the void left at the left-back position.
However, Pieters has insisted that the Oranje head coach should consider instating Willems down the left side of defence rather than anyone else.
“I think that Jetro has earned a chance. But obviously the coach makes the decision. When you see how Jetro has developed at PSV over the last season and how he has broken into the national team, you have to respect him”, the PSV stopper was quoted as saying
to Nusport.nl.
The highly-rated left-back, who has thus far donned the jersey of the Flying Dutchmen in 15 matches, went on to reveal that he advised the 18-year-old stopper to play his natural game.
“I told him that he should just do what he always does, he must rely on his own strength”, Pieters concluded.
Willems, who arrived at Philips Stadion in the summer of 2011 after making 16 Eredivisie appearances for Sparta Rotterdam, has not sufficient experience under his belt at any level. The youngster has thus far represented the Eindhoven giants in 20 league
games.
The Dutch stopper started in three of the Oranje’s warm-up games in preparation for European Championship against Bayern Munich, Bulgaria and Northern Ireland, and staged rock solid showings in all three of the games.
Although, Willems has managed to impress his coach, Van Marwijk, with his performances in the recent friendly encounters, he has to put in consistent and flawless showings in the group stage encounters to cement his place in the starting eleven.
Netherlands will kick-off their Euro 2012 venture against Denmark on Saturday, June 9.