The pre -pronounced ambition to win the tournament for the first time since 2007 has failed and football has been disappointing that the Dutch Juniors put on the mat in Slovakia. There were many questionable decisions of traveler to debit, but the Jong Oranje coach was able to call on fighting spirit with his players. That could also be seen against England, which was upper for a long time, but still had to go deep to win the victory.
The absence of the suspended three Devyne Rensch, Kenneth Taylor and Ruben van Bommel had taken care of the young Orange coach Michael Traveler with basic places for Neraysho Kasanwirjo, Antoni Milambo and Ernest Poku. For Milambo, that meant the first base place of the tournament, while Kasanwirjo made the first minutes at the tournament against the English. This season, the right -hand right -backed right in the club contained by Feyenoord to Rangers this season, but little bit of action, but had nevertheless received an invitation from traveler for the tournament.
Roefs saves the Dutch Juniors in the initial phase
At the time of kicking off it was still blood warm in the national stadium of Bratislava with a temperature of just above thirty degrees Celsius. The circumstances had a major impact on the game, because it became a lazy not to say slow game with football at a low pace. England started the most energetic and initially grabbed the initiative in the game.
It was only thanks to goalkeeper Robin Roefs that the Dutch Juniors did not run into a backlog in the opening phase. The goalie from Heeswijk-Dinther in Brabant saved twice with great opportunities for Liverpool player Harvey Elliott. At the first he managed to bring salvation on the goal line, with the second moment Roefs could just intervene. In the first twenty minutes or the Dutch Junior, it seemed to play with a male less, just like against Portugal, the game image was so one -sided. England dominated and the men of traveler sought mainly behind the ball.
Robin Roefs kept great in the initial phase. © Pro Shots
Match image a little more equivalent
The trust with the English, title holder of the tournament, that they would push again to the final was immense. Based on the play against Spain in the quarterfinals, the English considered themselves a favorite for the Duel with the Dutch Juniors.
In the course of the first half, the match image became a bit more balanced, but the Juniors did not come to great opportunities. The most dangerous moment was when Luciano Valente could have put his FC Groningen teammate Thom van Bergen in position, but the pass was just too big. The same Valente had almost been at the basis of an English goal. With a dramatic free kick, the Groninger introduced an English counterattack that led to a good chance for Alex Scott.
Jong Oranje bite off after the break
After a fleet first half, the traveler intervened in the break and surprisingly replaced Kasanwirjo for Wouter Goes. The AZ defender had not participated this tournament for less than a minute and only plays as a center defender at his club AZ, but traveler now needed him for a special assignment. He filled in Goes properly.
The Dutch Juniors bit more after the break, where Valente caused a threat in two situations and Ian Maatsen put the English goalkeeper James Beadle to the test with a hard shot. It was loss of Milambo, who did not play a strong game, who introduced the opening goal of Elliott.
Elliott decides competition
Traveler intervened and brought with Noah Ohio, who has lost his base place this tournament, as an extra striker and the field. Ohio was only in the lines for a minute when he surprised goalkeeper Beadle with a great shot from a great distance (1-1).
The Netherlands and England seemed to be heading for an extension, but a great individual action by Elliott nevertheless made the balance in favor of the English (2-1).