England vs Netherlands: Danny Blind hails 'modern football' being played under Roy Hodgson

Dutch manager praises Three Lions ahead of tonight's match at Wembley

Danny Blind talks to the media alongside Daley Blind (GETTY IMAGES)

Netherlands coach Danny Blind hailed England’s “modern football” as he prepared for Tuesday night’s glamorous friendly at Wembley.

Holland, for once, go into today's game as underdogs having failed to qualify for next summer’s European Championships. Blind is trying to re-build his team with a new generation of young players and he heaped praise on Roy Hodgson’s side having watched their 3-2 defeat of Germany on Saturday night.

“It is a good team with young and promising players,” Blind said. “It is more difficult to beat England than it used to be in the past. Holland have had good results against England, but they appear to play more modern, less predictable football now. Maybe a bit more of a European style, influence by all the foreign coaches and players here in the Premier League.”

Blind was especially impressed by how England’s front three of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Ross Barkley disrupted Germany’s attempts to play out from the back in the second half. “To beat Germany in Germany after being behind is very special,” he said. “They had good pressure with their front three, who did a great job to disturb the German build-up successfully. Normally Germany play out from the back, through Manuel Neuer, but they gave them great problems. So great credit to the England team.”

There was special praise, too, for Dele Alli, who dazzled in Berlin but is unlikely to start this evening. “Dele Alli was very special on Saturday,” Danny Blind said. “He is a good technical player, with a good shot, but he is also aggressive. He wins a lot of tackles on the pitch. He is a special player.”

Daley Blind, who will captain Holland, spoke just as positively about England captain Wayne Rooney, still recovering from a knee injury. “When a player like Wayne Rooney is fit then he is a very special player, and he can make every team better,” Blind said. “When he is fit we [Manchester United] are definitely going to need him, he brings something special to the team. He is exceptional, he has exceptional qualities. For me it is not even a question.”