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Tottenham’s Xavi Simons came off the bench and impressed for the Netherlands as they thrashed Finland in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.
The Dutch playmaker has not hit the ground running at Tottenham Hotspur since his big-money move from RB Leipzig, but he has shown some glimpses of his quality of late.
In fact, Thomas Frank felt that Xavi Simons’ performance against Leeds was his best in a Spurs shirt so far, with the 22-year-old proving the Lilywhites’ main creative fulcrum at Elland Road.
Many remain confident that Xavi will prove an astute signing for Spurs, and the attacking midfielder continued his impressive form during the international break.
Tottenham star Xavi Simons sets up a goal during Netherlands cameo
The Spurs star did not start for the Netherlands against Finland in the Johan Cruijff Arena, but he did come on as a 79th-minute substitute in place of Donyell Malen.
It took Xavi just five minutes to make an impact as he played a through ball to Cody Gakpo, who lashed home from outside the box to make it 4-0.
Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven got 71 minutes under his belt at left-back, which has become his main position in the Netherlands set-up.
The Oranje are now sitting pretty at the top of Group G, three points clear of second-placed Poland.
Xavi was used as a winger once again
Xavi has made it clear that he prefers playing centrally, and he has certainly been much better in the middle for Tottenham than he has been out wide.
Spurs fans have been calling for Frank to use Xavi as a number ten, but it appears that his international boss also sees him as a wide option.
Once again, Ronald Koeman played the Spurs man on the right of the front three when he brought him on, which was the same role that the Netherlands boss employed him in his last appearance against Poland last month.
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