The Football World Cup is not far away for the Orange Women. Two more victories separate national coach Veurink’s team from next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

But who will win those two important victories? Is that the youth who achieved great success in the previous international match, or will it be the experienced ‘old guard’?

“Qualification for the World Cup is our goal, the question is what we need for that,” said national coach Veurink at the press conference in which he looked ahead to the Dutch team’s last two qualifying matches against Ireland (June 5) and Poland (June 9).

Because with young players such as Renee van Asten (19) and Wieke Kaptein (20), very important points were scored against top country France in the previous international match. As a result, the Netherlands is now first in the qualifying group.

It could be an option to give those players who have performed well another chance. But now that Daniëlle van de Donk, Dominique Janssen, Jackie Groenen, Kerstin Casparij and Caitlin Dijkstra have another 500 international matches of experience, decisions have to be made.

“Experience is always important, apart from this week,” says 39-year-old Veurink.

“Players who have played such big matches with high stakes before can certainly help. That is why players like Daniëlle van de Donk are very valuable during this period. But not all of them are guaranteed their place, no matter how experienced you are.”

Veurink does not immediately write off the young players.

“We did very well in the previous period. I do not foresee any rigorous changes, but we will see on Friday what changes there are.”

However, the national coach seems to be leaning towards more experience. Veurink has also called up experienced players who have played little for their clubs after their injury.

“But of all the players there, the fitness is good,” says Veurink. “We will experience the rhythm this week. But I have enough confidence in them, otherwise I would not have called them up. Many of them can contribute.”

It is also not the case that Veurink necessarily wants to hold on to the youth in order to further develop those players, he says.

“It is not a goal in itself to give the youth the opportunity, qualifying is our goal. We look at what we need for qualification and you look for the balance between that goal and what we need for the World Cup next year. You weigh that every time.”

At the end of a grueling season, with a possible World Cup ticket as a reward, Veurink is certain that freshness and fitness will be important indicators for the composition of his team.

That is why Vivianne Miedema, for example, was not called up, he says. “She has just returned from an injury and also has her private situation.”

Miedema’s sick mother was in intensive care for weeks. “If you add her physical and mental freshness together, the sum is quickly made. Vivianne is not ready to join now.”

We will see for the first time how fresh and fit the selection actually is on Friday in Cork when the Netherlands plays the away match against Ireland.