Memphis Depay (24th) and captain Georginio Wijnaldum (51st, 58th) scored the goals for the Netherlands, who were clearly the dominant team over 90 minutes. North Macedonia also had its chances in the game, as a pole shot and two disallowed offside hits showed.
As announced, the Netherlands went into the last group game with a starting eleven changed to two positions. Donyell Malen and Ryan Gravenberch started instead of Wout Weghorst and Marten de Roon, who had a yellow background. Otherwise, Bondscoach Frank de Boer relied on his best team, even though his team was already group winners.
Netherlands immaculate
The Netherlands made it into the European Championship round of 16 flawlessly with three wins. In the last group game there was a 3-0 win against North Macedonia.
Pandev said goodbye with great applause
In terms of sport, it was no longer about anything, as North Macedonia could no longer reach the round of 16 even with a win. For a player in the team of team boss Igor Angelovski, the match was still emotional: Captain Goran Pandev has decided to end his career in the national jersey after the European Championship. The game against the Dutch was the last big appearance of the 37-year-old striker.
When he was substituted in the 69th minute, Pandev received applause from fellow players, opponents and the audience. The 37-year-old has scored 38 goals in 122 international matches since his debut in 2001. Before the game, the Italian legionnaire, who plays for FC Genoa, received a gift from the Dutch – a jersey from “Elftal” with the number 122.
The “Elftal” showed right from the start who is the boss in the Johan Cruijff Arena. Ryan Gravenberch’s first shot after 90 seconds was a bit too high. A bad pass by the North Macedonians in their own half of the game opened up the next opportunity for the Netherlands. Donyell Malen could have finished ahead of goalie Stole Dimitrievski, but opted for captain Wijnaldumauf in the center – his pass was blocked (8th).
North Macedonia’s offside goal
In return, North Macedonia combined with beautiful passes behind the Dutch defense, and Ivan Trichkovski finished what was supposed to be 1-0 (9th). The shooter was offside in the last pass, however, the goal was rightly denied by the Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs.
After that, North Macedonia was mainly occupied with defensive work. However, the Netherlands did not succeed in penetrating the defense bar consisting of a chain of six. North Macedonia hardly had any chances, but the one in the 21st minute was tough: Aleksandar Trajkovski’s sharp shot from the edge of the box went to the right post.
Depay and Malen make it 1-0
The goal for the Netherlands came after a quick counterattack. Depay and Malen whirled four passes across the field until Depay finished 1-0 into the left corner in the penalty area (24th). The Dutch had more chances through Denzel Dumfries (30./Dimitrievski holds the header), Depay (30./shot blocked by defender) and Malen (31./shot over goal).
North Macedonia came close to the opponent’s penalty area a few times, but team boss Angelovski’s eleven could not create much danger. Even the Dutch didn’t manage to score another goal in the first half despite their clear field superiority. Referee Kovacs whistled for the break after two minutes of stoppage time.
Bondscoach De Boer brought two new players in the second half. Jurrien Timber came in for Stefan de Vrij, and Dumfries made way for Steven Berghuis. The team from North Macedonia came onto the field unchanged. The Netherlands had the first big chance in half two after a corner. Trichkovski was able to clear Matthijs de Ligt’s header on the line (50th).
Two hits from Wijnaldum
Shortly afterwards, the Dutch took the ball from the North Macedonians in the build-up of the game, after Depay’s low cross, Wijnaldum only had to push the ball over the line to make it 2-0 (51 ‘). Wijnaldum also made it 3-0. Macedonia’s goalkeeper Dimitrievski could only punch away a shot from Depay, the Dutch captain was spot on and dusted off (58.)
Shortly after the emotional farewell for Pandev, who had left the field of play visibly moved (69th), the North Macedonians cheered over the supposed consolation goal. But also the goal of Darko Churlinov, who came on for Trichkovski in the 56th minute, fell from a clear offside position (72nd). In the final stages, North Macedonia could not follow up, and the Netherlands seemed to be content with the 3-0. They came dangerous several times in front of Dimitrievski’s goal, but then missed the last moment.
Group C, third matchday
Monday:
North Macedonia – Netherlands 0: 3 (0: 1)
Amsterdam, Johan Cruijff ArenA, 15.227 Zuschauer, SR Kovacs (ROU)
Goal sequence:
0:1 Depay (24.)
0:2 Wijnaldum (51.)
0:3 Wijnaldum (58.)
Northern Macedonia: Dimitrievski – S. Ristovski, D. Velkovski, Musliu, Alioski – Bardi (78./Stojanovski), Ademi (78./Nikolov) – Trickovski (56./Churlinov), Elmas, Trajkovski (68./Hasani) – Pandev 69./Kostadinov)
Netherlands: Stekelenburg – Dumfries (46./Berghuis), De Vrij (46./Timber), De Ligt, Blind, Van Aanholt – F. de Jong (79./Gakpo), Wijnaldum, Gravenberch – Depay (66./Weghorst), Grind (66./Promes)
Yellow cards: S. Ristovski, Musliu, Alioski, Kostadinov or none
The best: Trajkovski or Depay, Wijnaldum, Gravenberch
