Although Koeman changed his team in five places – Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven, Ryan Gravenberch and Xavi Simons were sitting on the couch, while Frenkie de Jong was caught up injured – Memphis was given the opportunity to shoot himself in the record books. The striker started the game as a fellow top scorer and fellow assistant of all time and had to try to shake off Robin van Persie (also 50 goals) and Wesley Sneijder (also 33 assists).
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In that first he succeeded after eleven minutes with a quick foot movement, after Cody Gakpo operated him. Lang fought Depay in the Dutch national team against the (pre) judgments of the outside world. But in the group of players and in the national coaches he was always loved.
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And he can consult great statistics. He played 104 times in Orange and 52 times it was Bingo, of which twelve times from the penalty spot. That he is not selfish is the number of goals he prepared. Hats off – because of his fashionable clothing style in his case perhaps: hat off – so for the top shooter of Orange.
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Debut Sem Steijn
The evening in the very hot Lithuania was also special for Sem Steijn. The midfielder of Feyenoord should have viewed the home game with Poland (1-1) in ‘his’ De Kuip from the stands. But in the Dariaus Ir Gireno Stadionas he made his first minutes in the Oranje-shirt as a substitute. It will undoubtedly have led to a lump in the throat and tearing eyes to his father Maurice. The Sparta trainer had left for Lithuania on Sunday morning with a big smile, after he had learned the night before that Sem was in the competition selection.
Sem Steijn debuted for the Dutch national team. © ANP / ANP
With the debut of Steijn Junior, the circle was around for the family. What few people know, but Maurice Steijn proudly said of the international match on the afternoon, is that as ADO The Hague trainer in the same-not yet renovated-stadium made his European debut against FK Tauras. He won 2-3. But that was not easy after an early red card. Two hits from Lex and a Lithuanian own goal provided great joy, which, however, fell at the joy during Lithuania-Netherlands.
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For Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Gravenberch and Simons, who were replaced by Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Aké, Jerdy Schouten and Quinten Timber, the grapes were sour. They fell victim to the moderate result against Poland. After Quinten Timber made his first Orange goal ever in the 33rd minute, there seemed to be no dirt in the air anymore.
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But totally misplaced arrogance and an incomprehensible laziness ensured that Gvidas Gineltis and Edvinas Girdvalnis Nederland make it before the break (2-2). For a moment Koeman seemed to be on the flag of Lithuania. With a red head of anger, he was annoyed by green and yellow, because everyone started to dribble and shot the ball pace down. In the break it must have thundered in the dressing room.
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In the second company, it was nevertheless a bit of Kommer and Kwel for more than fifteen minutes. But on a pass from Denzel Dumfries-and one minute after the introduction of Jurriën Timber, Van de Ven and Steijn-Depay scored again, now with the head (2-3). It was enough for the victory, so that the Netherlands stays on the World Cup course. But that Koeman brought defender Matthijs de Ligt for attacker Donyell Malen said a lot about the bad performance of Orange in the final phase.
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