The European Championship is finally giving Memphis Depay the chance to shine on the big stage.
The Netherlands forward has two goals and two assists heading into Sunday’s match against the Czech Republic in the round of 16. He has scored seven goals in eight games in 2021 and, at 27, he’s entering his peak years.
Depay’s mercurial ability played a large part in the team’s three wins in the group stage at Euro 2020, with the soon-to-be Barcelona forward scoring or creating half of the eight goals.
“He showed how important he is for us. He’s a player with special qualities,” Netherlands defender Daley Blind said. “He can do magical things with the ball.”
Netherlands assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, a superb finisher himself, said Depay has blossomed into a leader.
“I see a focus and conviction, a need to show what he has and the will to be the best,” Van Nistelrooy said. “This is something which I find beautiful to see.”
Depay netted 76 goals in 178 games for Lyon, including a spectacular turn and lob from the halfway line.
The Czechs have a major scoring threat of their own in striker Patrik Schick. He has scored three goals so far at Euro 2020, the same as Netherlands midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum.
CAPTAIN’S ARMBAND
Wijnaldum will wear a captain’s armband emblazoned with “OneLove” and a multicolored heart in Sunday’s match.
“Of course, everybody knows the situation in Hungary,” he told broadcaster NOS, referring to a new Hungarian law that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment.
The law has been denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination.
There was strong support in Munich on Wednesday for the LGBT community before Germany’s match against Hungary.
Germany captain Manuel Neuer wore a rainbow armband.
“That appealed to us,” Wijnaldum said.
De Boer added: “We are against every form of discrimination.”
Schick scored one of the tournament’s best goals with a spectacular looping shot from just inside the halfway line in a 2-0 win over Scotland.
“It was probably the most beautiful goal of the tournament. It was world class,” Netherlands coach Frank de Boer said Saturday through a translator. “We respect every striker, especially him.”
But he is the only player to have scored for the Czechs, who scraped through as one of the four best third-place teams.
Czech captain Vladimir Darida, a midfielder with 73 international appearances, is doubtful after sustaining an unspecified injury during practice on Friday.
