Justin Kluivert’s moment arrives: the Oranje midfielder ready to deliver

Justin Kluivert has waited for this. The Oranje midfielder senses his moment has arrived as the World Cup knockout phase begins, and he is ready to step out of the shadows.

Kluivert made his first World Cup appearance as a substitute against Tunisia, a milestone he called “a beautiful moment.” Ronald Koeman handed him no minutes against Japan or Sweden, yet the Bournemouth player kept sending the same message to the Dutch coach: “I’m fit, I’m coming.”

The midfielder’s path to Qatar nearly faltered in March when a knee injury required surgery. Yet he recovered in time, and Koeman acknowledged his readiness even if minutes remained elusive. “The coach knows my qualities,” Kluivert said. “He has to make choices, but I’m happy to have played against Tunisia.”

Kluivert’s best performances under Koeman between the Nations League and the World Cup came as a false ten against Spain, where Oranje were eliminated on penalties. His creativity and pressing stood out in those matches.

“That injury came at a bad time,” he said. “This World Cup could have looked very different for me. But I’m here now, and I visualize every day what I can still bring to the team.”

The Amsterdam-born player shares his situation with youth friend Noa Lang. “Our situations are similar,” Kluivert said. “A squad has more than eleven starters, and the coach can only name eleven. We’re a team—that’s what matters.”

Koeman’s faith in Bournemouth’s players has been noted. The Dutch coach repeatedly received messages from Kluivert confirming his fitness ahead of the tournament.

Kluivert’s club journey reflects his adaptability. After stints at Roma, Leipzig, Nice, and Valencia, he found his rhythm at Bournemouth under Andoni Iraola, who repositioned him as an attacking midfielder.

“Technical director Marc Overmars had already told me at Ajax that I would end up as an attacking midfielder,” Kluivert said. “One who makes the dirty work and presses well.”

He added: “Am I the only true number ten in this Oranje? Maybe. And Guus Til. But we have so many good players, each filling the role in their own way.”

With Morocco next, Kluivert is focused on seizing his chance. “We have so much still to fight for,” he said. “And we’re going to do that.”