At the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, their last before that, the Dutch were eliminated from the group bottom in the preliminary round without a win. At the home game in Amsterdam they showed their clout again. Georginio Wijnaldum (52nd minute of the game), Wout Weghorst (59th) and Denzel Dumfries (85th) provided the decisive goals for the dominating hosts in the second half. Andrei Jarmolenko (75th) and Roman Yaremchuk (79th) met for Ukraine.
In the second group game, the Dutch will face Austria on Thursday (9 p.m., live on ORF1) in a direct duel for group leadership, before that the Ukraine will face North Macedonia at 3 p.m. (live on ORF1).
New start more than successful
The Dutch wanted to use this EM for a new start. The last highlight was third place at the 2014 World Cup, which was also my last participation in a major tournament. The departure of stars like Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie or Klaas-Jan Huntelaar followed, as did the big slump. The current generation around Goalgetter Memphis Depay came to cause a sensation again. The star defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Virgil van Dijk were missing, however.
Ukraine accepted the challenge beforehand. The team of coach Andrij Shevchenko did not want to hide. “We will only play to win against every opponent,” said attacker Artem Besedin, although it was the last time it was scoring goals. “It would be wrong to play for a draw. We have very high ambitions.” In two duels against the Netherlands so far it had for Ukraine, which was unbeaten this year, was only enough to draw.
Offensive fireworks from the start
Would it work out with the first win against “Oranje” at the European Championship? At first there was not much left of the glamor of the European Championship qualifying, in which Ukraine even won the group ahead of Portugal, in the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Both teams were offensive. Only “Oranje” was a fire hazard.
Depay’s first top chance after a lightning-fast counterattack defused Ukraine goalkeeper Georgi Buschtschan in the second minute of the game, with another save he parried the close-range shot from Denzel Dumfries (5th). Shortly thereafter, Georginio Wijnaldum slammed the ball over the bar.
Next goal opportunity (5th minute)
Dumfries with the next goal opportunity for the Netherlands.
Buschtschan as a sure source of support
The Ukrainians staggered, although they did not give up and certainly not hid. Buschtschan held their own box tight, they could only see the opposing goal from a distance. The Netherlands continued to determine the game. Roman Yaremchuk (16th) fired the Ukrainians’ first unsuccessful shot on goal, and as expected he found his master in Dutch goalie Maarten Stekelenburg. The game remained varied and therefore entertaining with advantages for the Dutch, who pushed for the opening goal and at the same time were wary of counter attacks.
From through the middle – with good combinations, “Oranje” kept coming to goalkeeper Buschtschan, the goal celebration failed to materialize – as was the case with the Ukraine, whose game play worked well. An attempt by Andrej Jarmolenko after Solo did not pose any problems for Stekelenburg (30th).
On the other side, Buschtschan needed a brilliant save (39th) to parry another shot from Wijnaldum. The best chance of 1-0 in the first half was missed by Dumfries, who headed a tailor-made cross from Depay and curled the ball two meters past the right post from a very short distance (41.).
Dutch double chance
The Netherlands with two scoring chances one after the other, which they both do not use.
Exchange of blows after changing sides
The game did not lose pace after changing sides. Again the Dutch grabbed the scepter and pushed into the opponent’s penalty area. The zeal was rewarded in the 52nd minute: After a cross pass from Dumfries, which Buschtschan could only knock away uncontrolled, Wijnaldum was spot on. From the edge of the penalty area, the 30-year-old from Liverpool hit the ball under the crossbar.
Wijnaldum scores 1-0
Wijnaldum can take the lead for the Netherlands with a margin.
If that wasn’t enough, Wout Weghorst made the decision seven minutes later. After a ricochet in the penalty area, the 28-year-old striker sank the ball in the right corner. Buschtschan reached behind him again. This supposedly sealed the Ukrainians’ defeat. But the Ukrainians didn’t give up – and fought their way back.
Unrewarded chase by the Ukrainians
With a dream hit in the left corner of the cross, Jarmolenko shortened to 1: 2 in the 75th minute, and Yaremchuk headed four minutes later to equalize. The Dutch took notice, shaking their heads. Ten minutes remained. For the self-sacrificing zeal, they were ultimately rewarded: The previous assistant Dumfries netted after a pass from Nathan Ake with his head. Goalkeeper Buschtschan was decisively beaten.
EM 2021, Group C, first matchday
Sunday:
Netherlands – Ukraine 3: 2 (0: 0)
Amsterdam, Johan Cruyff Arena, 14.837 spectators, SR Brych (GER)
Tore:
1:0 Wijnaldum (52.)
2:0 Weghorst (58.)
2: 1 Yarmolenko (75th)
2: 2 Jaremtschuk (79th)
3:2 Dumfries (85.)
Netherlands: Stekelenburg – Dumfries, Timber (88. Veltman), De Vrij, Blind (64. Ake), Van Aanholt (64. Wijndal) – De Roon, Wijnaldum, F. de Jong – Weghorst (88. L. de Jong), Depay (91. Grind)
Ukraine: Buschchan – Karawajew, Sabarnyj, Matwijenko, Mykolenko – Malinowskyj, Sydortschuk, Sintschenko – Jarmolenko, Jaremtschuk, Subkow (13. Marlos / 64. Schaparenko)
Yellow card: Sydortschuk
The best: Wijnaldum, Depay, Dumfries or Sintschenko, Jarmolenko
