Jan Everse, a former Dutch international and mentor to ex-Liverpool manager Arne Slot, has expressed strong criticism of the Netherlands national football team ahead of their World Cup opener. Everse, who represented the Netherlands twice in 1975, voiced his disappointment with the squad led by coach Ronald Koeman, calling their style unappealing and stating he would rather watch Netflix than follow their matches.

The Netherlands enters the tournament with confidence after an unbeaten run in qualifying Group G, finishing with six wins and two draws. The team is set to face Japan in their opening match in Arlington, Texas. Memphis Depay, the Netherlands' all-time leading scorer with 55 goals and currently playing for Corinthians in Brazil, is expected to lead the attack.

Despite the squad’s promising statistics, Everse’s comments highlight a divide in perceptions of the team’s performance and style. Known for his outspoken views and having been part of the era following Johan Cruyff’s legendary Total Football side that reached the 1974 World Cup final, Everse’s remarks underline his dissatisfaction with what he sees as a lack of excitement or creativity in the current Dutch setup.

The Netherlands squad under Koeman has faced mixed reactions as they compete in North America, with supporters hopeful that the team can translate their strong qualifying form into success on the World Cup stage. Everse’s critique adds to the broader discourse about the direction and style of Dutch football at a time when the nation seeks to reclaim its place among the world’s elite teams.