Former PSV Eindhoven defender Jaap Stam has been impressed by Ruben van Bommel following the young winger’s Netherlands debut last month, identifying the PSV talent as one of the promising players emerging in Dutch football.

Stam, who earned 67 caps for the Netherlands between 1996 and 2004, shared his assessment in an interview with Flashscore, praising the quality available to the national team in attack and the importance of developing homegrown talent.

“We have quality players in attack. We also have very good young players from our own youth system, which is extremely important. Players like Van Bommel from PSV,” Stam said.

The former defender also singled out Meerdink for his performances as a striker, adding that the forward had done “very, very well” in recent matches.

Van Bommel’s international breakthrough represents another step in his development at PSV, where his performances have helped put him on the national team's radar. Stam’s comments underline the confidence surrounding the next generation of Dutch attacking players.

Beyond the emerging talent in the squad, Stam also discussed national team coach Xavi Hernandez’s approach to the game, pointing to the Netherlands’ traditional preference for possession-based, attacking football.

“Xavi stands for attacking football, possession-based football, and we all know that. I think we have a team that can do that, and in certain matches they have also proven it,” Stam said.

The former centre-back believes the expectations placed on a Netherlands manager extend beyond results. In his view, a defensive approach could invite criticism even if it delivered victories consistently.

“If a coach in the Netherlands doesn’t do that, the criticism will only increase,” he added.

Stam explained that Dutch supporters tend to place considerable importance on the quality of the football being played, rather than judging a team solely by its results.

“In the Netherlands, we don't always look only at the results. Suppose he plays very defensively and we win every match. Normally, everyone would be happy, but in the Netherlands nobody is really happy, because the match is very boring, so nobody would watch it,” Stam said.

“That’s why Dutch people are sometimes a bit strange in how they view football.”

Stam also addressed the Netherlands’ defensive record in 2026, noting that the national team had failed to keep a clean sheet in any match during the calendar year.

He pointed to a familiar Dutch footballing principle to explain the country's traditional emphasis on attacking output.

“Do you know that Dutch saying? As long as we score one goal more than the opponent, we have three points,” Stam said, as quoted by PSV Inside.

His remarks reflect the balance facing the Netherlands: maintaining their attacking identity while improving defensively. For Van Bommel, meanwhile, his international debut and the recognition from a former Dutch international provide further encouragement as he seeks to establish himself at both club and international level.