EURO 2021 | S. Macedonia – Netherlands 0: 3, The Dutch are still 100% at the European Championships

Dutch scorer Memphis Depay opened the score of the match with North Macedonia.

Piroschka Of The Wouw, Reuters

Coach Frank De Boer’s charges advanced to the round of 16 from first place and will face the third team in Group D, E, or F, which may be the Czechia. The duel will take place in Budapest on June 27. Northern Macedonia did not get a point in its debut at the European Championships.

Oranje against North Macedonia won the third match in a row and did not lose in any of the five mutual duels. At the same time, it was their 10th duel in a row, in which they scored at least two goals. Overall, they lost only one of the last 13 matches on the international scene.

Dutchman Georginio Wijnaldum (left) celebrates his shot in a match against Northern Macedonia with Memphis Depay.

Peter Dejong, Reuters

The Dutch already had some progress from the first place before the match, while North Macedonia was already doomed to the last place in the group C table. However, the guests at least tried to get the first points at the European Championships in history and advanced to the match. Already in the 10th minute, after a quick break, the goalkeeper Stekelenburg was overcome by a quick Tričkovski, but the referee did not recognize the goal for a tight offside.

Ivan Tričkovski from North Macedonia is delighted, but his goal was not paid.

Kenzo Tribouillard, ČTK / AP

The coach of Angelovský remained dangerous and in the 22nd minute he leaned into the ball on the border of the penalty area Trajkovski, but with a sharp blow he stamped the rod. The guests could regret the unchanged chances two minutes later, when he escaped to Malen’s break, exchanged the ball with Depay and the second named opened the match with his 28th goal in the national team. The goal again inflamed the North Macedonians, who claimed Blind’s previous foul on Pandev. However, referee Kovács acknowledged the goal after consulting the video.

The calm Dutch team took control and immediately added another shot, when Dumfries ran into the center from the left side, but the goalkeeper Dimitrievski pulled an excellent intervention against his shot. He did the same when Depaye later penetrated.

In the duel for the ball Aleksandar Trajkovski (right) from North Macedonia and Stefan de Vrij from the Netherlands.

Piroschka Of The Wouw, Reuters

The Oranjes made two changes to the second half, but they became more dangerous. After a corner kick in the 50th minute and De Ligta’s header, Dimitrievského still represented the Tričkovski on the goal line, but immediately after that the Dutch launched another quick attack and the Depaye center got into the Wijnaldum net.

The guests did not give up the match and Stekelenburg was frightened by Bardhi after a direct kick, but two minutes before the end of the game they lost by three goals when Depay’s shot hit the net again with Wijnaldum. Thanks to these two interventions, the former Liverpool midfielder has surpassed the national team’s mark Mark Van Basten and has 25 goals.

Goran Panděv during the finale in the national jersey of North Macedonia.

Olaf Kraak, ČTK / AP

Twenty-one minutes before the end, Angelovski replaced his main star Panděva, who said goodbye to his national team career and was applauded by fans and teammates. The 37-year-old gunner has scored 38 goals from 122 matches in the national team in 20 years.

The Dutch won all three matches in the basic group of the European Championships for the third time in history and for the first time since 2008 they will play in the elimination part at the continental championship.