The Netherlands has slipped through the eye of the needle in Greece. Our northern neighbors needed two penalties and only scored in minute 93, but the road to the European Championship is suddenly completely open again.
It was a tough assignment for the Dutch: without a team of injured players – including Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Memphis Depay and Noa Lang – they had to win in Greece. To give an idea: the midfield with Tijjani Reijnders and Mats Wieffer had barely eight caps for the national team before this important European Championship qualifying match. And goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was only playing his second international match.
Without really creating big chances, it was the Greeks who started the match well, but just before the half hour, the Netherlands were awarded a penalty out of nowhere for a mistake on Virgil van Dijk. Occasional striker Wout Weghorst kicked the penalty much too weakly, Nottingham Forrest goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos took the penalty.
Photo: AP
For the Greek goalkeeper, that penalty save – his first real save of the match – was the start of a top match. Just before and just after half-time, he also kept Ajax striker Steven Bergwijn from scoring the opening goal.
Photo: REUTERS
The Netherlands improved slightly, but the team did not really perform. A lot was expected of 20-year-old top talent Xavi Simons – teammate of Loïs Openda at RB Leipzig who has already scored three goals and four assists in seven matches this season – but he could not lead the team. The number ten played too sloppily. National coach Koeman took him off after 62 minutes, together with the much unluckier Weghorst.
Photo: AP
The fact that substitute Brian Brobbey had to ensure the turnaround is also significant. The Ajax striker made his debut in terribly difficult circumstances and Koeman’s substitutions contributed next to nothing.
Second penalty
It is no coincidence that in the absolute final phase it was two established names who helped the Netherlands to victory. Denzel Dumfries provoked a second penalty, and captain Virgil van Dijk coolly scored in minute 93. A sigh of relief for our northern neighbors, who had already been pressed into their own half for fifteen minutes just before the penalty.
Photo: AP Photo: REUTERS
The way will be worse for them. The Netherlands are level with Greece and have one more match to play, at home against Ireland and in Gibraltar. The road to the European Championship is suddenly completely open again for the Dutch team.
Photo: REUTERS
2023-10-16 20:49:00
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