Thijs Dallinga: A Box Office Forward

This year has been a coming out party for Thijs Dallinga in Toulouse and most recently in the Oranje of his home. His game feels made for the biggest stages and now he is taking them.

Thijs Dallinga took a touch with his right instep, shielded the ball with his body, turned toward goal and fired the ball home in off the inside of the far post. The movements, while subtle, had a coolness about them. A panache that suggests the striker that possesses it has far more years at a top level than he does. With this goal, coming at home in a…