Especially before the break, the Dutch national team showed a strong appearance and that will have appealed to national coach Louis van Gaal, because the Orange played against the Danes in the system he wanted with three defenders. The implementation of the new Orange system, referred to by Van Gaal as a 1-3-4-1-2 system, did not look unfamiliar despite the small number of training days that the national coach could have used for induction.
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Van Gaal had lined up several players who already have some experience with a somewhat similar system at their club. The big winners of the system change were Nathan Aké and Teun Koopmeiners. The Manchester City defender had played just one minute in the previous nine international matches, a substitute in the decisive World Cup qualifier against Norway, and often sat in the stands, but was standing for the first time since 14 October 2020 (Italy-Netherlands in the Nations League) once again in the starting lineup. Van Gaal had already indicated in advance that in his eyes the left-hand of the three defenders should always be a left leg and had a role as wingback in store for Daley Blind.
Koopmeiners, accustomed to a system with three defenders at his club Atalanta, also emerged as the winner. The midfielder was allowed to play for his fourth international match, although he had not made a good turn in his previous appearance. The ex-AZ player took a 2-0 lead in the penultimate World Cup qualifying international match against Montenegro, after which the Dutch national team relinquished the lead. Koopmeiners played downright weak during that inning, but did well against the Danes.
Notable Absence
The most striking absentee from the starting eleven was Georginio Wijnaldum, who hardly plays at his club Paris Saint-Germain and paid the bill for it. “He’s trying his best, but he’s not in his best shape. If you then have to put a captain next to the team, that’s not fun,” said Van Gaal before the game in front of the NOS camera. “He reacted professionally, but was very disappointed.”
Although Steven Bergwijn hardly plays at Tottenham Hotspur, the ex-PSV player was allowed to start in Van Gaal’s base. “Bergwijn has always done very well for me. Bergwijn does not play for Tottenham Hotspur, but has played the last two games with me. He did a very good job, I reward him for that. It’s also complementary to Memphis, which is an important argument,” Van Gaal clarified.
The Orange players cheer after Nathan Ake has put the Orange ahead again.
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Bergwijn rewarded the confidence of the national coach by being one of the most dangerous Orange players before the break. The first target danger, a flaming long shot, came from his foot and then the Spurs attacker started the new Orange year as he had ended the previous one: by scoring a goal. On a cross by Daley Blind, he headed the ball against the net. At the end of last year, Bergwijn had already scored the first goal in the decisive World Cup qualifier against Norway.
Fleck unlucky
The Dutch national team played dominantly, created chances and hardly gave anything away, but it was quickly level again. With a sparse threatening moment from the Danes, the organization was not good, Blind let himself be trumped in the air by the tall defender Jannik Vestergaard and the debuting goalkeeper Mark Flek operated hesitantly.
An unfortunate moment for 28-year-old Fleks, who had little chance to distinguish himself and had to fish immediately at the first dangerous moment of the Danes. The goalkeeper of SC Freiburg, a late bloomer with only 39 games at the highest level, is the 45th debutant under national coach Van Gaal and the 40th Limburger in Orange. The goalie from Bocholtz followed in the footsteps of Jorrit Hendrix and Joshua Brenet, the PSV players who had been the last Limburgers in Orange in 2016.
Return Eriksen
Orange recovered after the Danish equalizer and the third goal was also a header. Aké graced his base with his third Orange goal. The Manchester City defender headed home from an watched cross by Steven Berghuis. Moments later, the assister earned a penalty, which was used flawlessly by Memphis Depay, his 39th international goal in his 76th Orange appearance.
Memphis Depay signed for the 3-1 from the penalty spot.
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At the start of the second half, Christian Eriksen came in for the Danes and that resulted in a goosebumps moment in the Johan Cruijff ArenA, where the Danish midfielder experienced his big breakthrough as an Ajax player. It was Eriksen’s first appearance in the national team since the cardiac arrest during the European Championship match with Denmark against Finland. After a lengthy recovery period, he was able to play his 110th international match in his beloved Amsterdam. At his entrance Eriksen received a standing ovation and after he had made the connection goal two minutes later, he was massively cheered by Danish and Dutch fans.
Christian Eriksen makes his comeback in the Danish selection.
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Equal second half
The second half was more even. The Netherlands was no longer as dominant as before halftime and there were opportunities for both teams. The only one who would still find the goal was Bergwijn, who signed for the footballing highlight of the evening with his beautifully placed curling ball. The Orange has a purifying effect for the Spurs attacker, who is mainly used as a substitute at his club, but can refuel confidence in the Dutch national team.
Eriksen was also close to a second goal, but a great bang from distance ended on the post. With the introduction of Tyrell Malacia, Arnaut Danjuma and Donyell Malen for Aké, Bergwijn and Memphis, Van Gaal was able to experiment a bit in the second half. All in all, the national coach will not have been dissatisfied with the first game with the system he desired, although it will have to become clear over a longer period of time whether it is actually the best solution for this Dutch team.