The second confrontation with France in the European Championship qualification also ended in a deception for the Dutch team. The score was 1-2 for the French in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, on behalf of whom Kylian Mbappé scored twice. It became exciting in the final phase, when debutant Quilindschy Hartman scored the tying goal in the 82nd minute, but the Dutch final offensive did not produce the equalizer.
France, which was already too strong for the Dutch team 4-0 in Paris, has already qualified for the 2024 European Championship in Germany after six of the eight qualifying matches. The Netherlands still has to work hard for this, because thanks to Greece’s 0-2 win in Ireland, the next opponent of the Dutch team is now second in the group. The Dutch national team will meet the Greeks in Athens on Monday.
Special attention will be paid to the first minutes of the match. After all, the opening phase is clearly not good for the Dutch in Ronald Koeman’s second period. For the fourth time in seven international matches since this national coach took office, the Dutch national team conceded its first goal after a few minutes. Just like before with France-out, Ireland-out
The accompanying fans of Les Bleus could already cheer in the sixth minute. There was a lot of talk among the French about star player Kylian Mbappé, who had not scored in four games and would struggle with his form, but the reunion with the Dutch team had a beneficial effect on the great star of French football. After Mbappé had already scored twice against the Dutch team in the Stade de France, he soon scored again.
Repetitive problem
Right back Jonathan Clauss enjoyed a lot of freedom and, after a quick attack over many drives, gave a good cross, which was shot into the net by Mbappé in front of the goal. Lutsharel Geertruida could not prevent the goal (0-1).
Captain Virgil van Dijk had philosophized in advance about the cause of all those early goals conceded. “It is not a recurring problem that we get off to a bad start. That was not the case against Greece,” said the Liverpool defender, who indicated that starting well was the highest priority. “You also try to get everyone as sharp as possible in the warm-up tomorrow. So that we don’t play the first balls as we did there in Paris.”
All those good intentions came to nothing, although the goal could mainly be attributed to the flashy French combination. It was sad for the debuting goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, already the fourth starting goalkeeper in seven international matches under Koeman, that the ball was in so quickly.
Occupancy in the front was sparse
It is not a record to concede a goal so quickly as a debutant under the bar for the Dutch team. Lo la Chapelle (1st minute in 1907 against England), Frans de Munck (3rd minute in 1949 against France), Hennie Dijkstra (3rd minute in 1939 against Belgium) and Jan Jongbloed (3rd minute as a substitute in 1962 against Denmark) were added to their The Dutch team’s debut results in a goal more quickly.
Koeman had given the 3-4-3 system, which he had reintroduced during the previous international match, a bit more control by fielding an extra midfielder in the person of Joey Veerman in addition to Marten de Roon and Tijjani Reijnders. With a strengthened defense and a strengthened midfield, the line-up at the front was sparse.
Weghorst had the thankless task of being a lone fighter at the front to enforce something in an attacking sense. The striker of TSG Hoffenheim 1899, who is still waiting for his first goal for his new employer, had a great time, but was never really able to get into position. The Tukker stood on an island of impressive size.
In addition to Verbruggen, Feyenoord player Quilindschy Hartman also made his debut in the packed Johan Cruijff ArenA, who was preferred as left wingback to veteran Daley Blind. Reijnders and Veerman were in the starting line-up for the Dutch team for the first time after two previous substitute appearances by both midfielders.
Scot Hartman
After the early deficit, another big blow threatened, because France dominated the match and the Netherlands really had to do everything they could to curb the French danger. During the first half, the Dutch fought into the match and opportunities arose. The biggest for Veerman after a good put back from Denzel Dumfries, who else, but the PSV player shot over in a promising position. Simons also threatened twice, while French goalkeeper Mike Maignan grabbed a shot from Hartman, but caught the ball just before the goal line.
Trailing 0-1 at halftime, the Dutch team had hope for a result, although everyone realized that it was no easy feat to score against this French team, which has not yet conceded a goal this qualifying campaign and has set itself the goal of completing the group with a clean sweep. close sheets. Koeman brought on Mats Wieffer for Marten de Roon, after replacing Weghorst, who was injured, with Donyell Malen in the first half.
The hope of an equalizer was quickly taken away by a wonderful goal from Mbappé, who was given complete freedom to score at the edge of the sixteenth and Verbruggen scored with a magnificent shot (0-2), already the 42nd international goal by Mbappé, who was only 24 years old. is. It became a frustrating evening for the Brabander, who was not caught with any major mistakes, but had to fish twice.
Offside goal
The Dutch team was then unlucky when a quick goal from Malen was disallowed due to offside by assist provider Nathan Aké. A second good chance for Malen after a good turn away from the Borussia Dortmund striker also failed. Hartman did manage – as the first in this European Championship qualifying campaign – to score against the French, but the Dutch team did not get further than 1-2.
Worth mentioning in the second half was the Dutch debut of Jeremie Frimpong as a replacement for Dumfries and Micky van de Ven as a replacement for Aké. After the fourth defeat in seven international matches under his leadership, Koeman will have to quickly pick up the pieces in order to perform better on Monday under the Acropolis with the Dutch team.