Struggling Dutch team takes a big step towards the European Championship thanks to a beautiful goal by Wout Weghorst after victory over Ireland | Orange

On his knees, Wout Weghorst slides across the grass of the Aviva Stadium, ten minutes after half-time, roaring with joy. Right in front of the section with Dutch fans, the substitute celebrates, followed by a string of relieved teammates, immediately after his goal on the instructions of – who else – Denzel Dumfries: 1-2.

It is a goal that really quiets the electrifying Irish stadium for the first time on Sunday evening, after a dramatic first half by the Netherlands. Once again, national coach Ronald Koeman needs a tactical intervention to get the Dutch team on track: this time by switching back to a system with wing attackers and an attacking midfielder.

It won’t be the last time. Once again it became clear in Dublin that this Dutch team is unable to find solutions itself against headwinds, as it is qualitatively vulnerable in too many positions. In the two crucial international matches against Greece and Ireland, a team emerged that will have to rely on flexibility, guided by a pragmatic, improvising national coach.

That was not very different under his predecessor Louis van Gaal. That national coach usually played 4-3-3 in the qualifying matches, before switching to a more solid and dynamic 3-5-2 at the World Cup.

Koeman experienced this week that what is asked of this Dutch team will differ per match. Against stronger countries, the age-old way of playing with wingers and only two center defenders turned out to be far too fragile, but against the running and flying Irish it turned out to be a solution after the break.

Yet Sunday evening is not all about tactics. The start of the Dutch team in Dublin is mainly somewhere between dramatic and ridiculous, with a scene that immediately hurts the eyes. Barely a minute has been played when goalkeeper Mark Fleken comes up with the absurd idea of ​​playing Frenkie de Jong, a few meters from the goal, with two roaring and hunting Irishmen at his neck.

It barely ends well because Mats Wieffer blocks Chiedozie Ogbene’s shot, but half a minute later things still go wrong. From the awarded corner, Virgil van Dijk unfortunately gets the ball on his arm in an aerial duel – after which referee Irfan Peljto points to the spot. Striker Adam Idah hits the mark convincingly: 1-0.

These are three minutes that are typical of how the Dutch national team thinks they can play the qualifying match. Unfocused, clumsy, nervous and haughty: it is really not a sight how Oranje appears.

The hurricane of energy, power and sound in the Aviva Stadium may be crushing at times, but that cannot be a surprise: the Irish play exactly as they have done for countless years. With an unprecedented kind of lion’s heart at a murderous pace, carried by the wonderful roar in the stands.

The fact that the Dutch team equalized after 19 minutes was a real stroke of luck. A bad crossball from Van Dijk coincidentally ends up at the feet of Cody Gakpo, who gives a wonderful through ball to Denzel Dumfries who has passed through. The flying wing back reaches the ball before goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, after which Peljto gives another penalty.

Gakpo scores (1-1) and for a moment the Dutch team seems to give a sign of recovery. Donyell Malen gets a free chance after a switch from Xavi Simons, but it is one of the rare successful attacks before halftime. Van Dijk is very fortunate that he gets a free kick in a lost sprint duel with Idah, Ogbene gets a chance after even more fiddling at the back.

At halftime, Ronald Koeman has little choice but to intervene. With Wout Weghorst as striker and Tijjani Reijnders replacing the struggling Wieffer, the Dutch team plays in a kind of 4-2-3-1 formation in the second half with Xavi Simons as attacking midfielder. Shortly after the break, it first led to a good chance for Simons – and a little later to the lead: 1-2.

Frenkie de Jong sends a pass to the tireless Dumfries, who heads the ball across the goal, straight into the course of substitute Weghorst, who scores with control. Oranje does not show much more, but it does not get into trouble anymore. Thanks to the victory, the European Championship is still within reach.