The Dutch National Team has qualified for the Final Four of the Nations League. In the Amsterdam Arena, the Orange squad won 1-0 against Belgium with six Ajax players. The goal came from Virgil van Dijk’s head, Remko Pasveer also kept a fine game.
Back injury
In a packed Johan Cruijff Arena, the Orange immediately set the rhythm against the southern neighbors. Without the injured Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners and Memphis Depay, Louis van Gaal’s team did have some opportunities through, among others, former AZ player Vincent Janssen. A setback in the first half was the retirement of Steven Berghuis. The midfielder of Ajax left after half an hour of play with a back injury. Nevertheless, the Dutch National Team did not continue the good start and the spectacle did not stop before the tea break.
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feather
After the fifteen minute break, Belgium gained the upper hand. The Netherlands, including substitute Kenneth Taylor in the team, rarely appeared dangerously in front of the Red Devils’ goal. The danger mainly took place in front of Remko Pasveer’s goal. The Ajax goalie made a great save a few times. He showed his class, especially when Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana played halfway through the second half.
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Goal
After the pressure from the Belgians, the Dutch national team seemed to come out of its shell a bit more twenty minutes before the end. After some small chances, Virgil van Dijk made the only goal of the match. The captain headed in the 1-0 from a corner fifteen minutes before the end. In the final phase, Davy Klaassen and twice Steven Bergwijn were able to decide the game, but the two Ajax players lacked sharpness. In the last second of stoppage time, the Orange squad was lucky that a bicycle kick by Dodi Lukebakio ended up at the intersection.
With the win, the Orange squad advances to the Final Four. This mini-tournament will take place in the Netherlands next summer.
Orange lineup: feather; Timber (De Vrij/66), Van Dijk, Aké (Malacia/45); Dumfries, Berghuis (Gakpo/30), Klaassen (Gravenberch/91), De Roon, Blind; Janssen (Taylor/45), Bergwijn