“Many goals, good match and the zero,” Van Dijk looked back at the NOS. “It was important to grab 6 points from these two games. It is still a long way to the World Cup, but this was a good start. Now it’s time for some rest and then we will start again in four weeks.”
Dutch national team lashes out against Malta on record evening Memphis Depay
Van Dijk himself signed for the third goal in Groningen, the city where he started his professional career. Memphis Depay (2), Xavi Simons, Donyell Malen (2), Noa Lang and Micky van de Ven scored the other goals.
Valentijn Driessen: ‘Occasionally misunderstood Depay earns all credits’
Ronald Koeman: Orange deserves a big compliment
Ronald Koeman was a satisfied national coach after the Eclatante victory of the Dutch national team in Malta (8-0) in the World Cup qualification. “We played a match as I would like to see it,” he said after his fiftieth international match as the trainer of Oranje. “I think you couldn’t have done better in a match like today and then the team deserves a big compliment. We have continued to hunt until the last second and then you give the audience a Dutch national team they hope for.”
Ronald Koeman after the World Cup qualification match against Malta. © ANP/HH
Memphis Depay scored the first two goals in the Euroborg in Groningen. The striker is now at the same level with Robin van Persie, with fifty goals top scorer of all time of Orange. “I have always found Memphis a great player,” said Koeman. “I think he deserves a great compliment. He has had a year full of injuries, but is now fit and hungry.”
Koeman thinks that the Orange is this calendar year on the right track after two strong games against Spain and a victory at Finland. “I have always had the feeling that this is a very good group with players who are nice to work with and who are happy to be selected,” he said. “We have grown in walking without a ball, putting pressure together and bringing the energy that we may not have brought in the lesser competitions at first.”