Toornstra criticized by Van Gaal after Netherlands debut: 'Champion at playing backwards'

Toornstra recalls his 2013 Netherlands debut in Indonesia, where Van Gaal criticized his defensive play, calling him 'a champion at playing backwards.'

Jens Toornstra is five matches away from 500 Eredivisie appearances. His performances for FC Utrecht earned him four international caps for the Netherlands, a milestone he describes as 'the ultimate confirmation' for any footballer.

Toornstra made his debut during the 2013 Asia tour against Indonesia, followed by a match against China days later. He started the Indonesia game in sweltering heat and high humidity, but after 75 minutes began playing more defensively. As he left the pitch, coach Louis van Gaal approached him with a cutting remark: 'You are a champion at playing backwards.' Toornstra says the criticism stung but stayed with him, acknowledging Van Gaal's ability to sharpen players through such moments.

Four years later, Toornstra was recalled for friendlies against Italy and Morocco, a period he found even more special as he faced a full-strength squad. Though the Netherlands missed the 2018 World Cup, Toornstra treasured the experience of playing alongside world-class players like Arjen Robben, whose positional play and consistency impressed him deeply.