A battered Dutch team lost 4-0 on a visit to France. In the first match of national coach Ronald Koeman, the Orange played a hopeless match and was already 3-0 behind after 21 minutes. Ajax player Kenneth Taylor made an unfortunate basic debut for the Orange squad.
After just two minutes, the Orange was 1-0 behind after Antoine Griezmann tapped in from inside the box. Five minutes later goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen did not look good and Dayot Upamecano made it 2-0. The home team happily continued to score, because in the 21st minute it was Kylian Mbappe with the third goal of the evening. With a 3-0 deficit, the Orange went to the dressing room.
Kenneth Taylor
Ajax player Kenneth Taylor was in the Dutch starting line-up for the first time in his career. He replaced the injured Frenkie de Jong. “Mat Wieffer was also an option, but it was not armpit fresh. I have faith in Taylor otherwise he wouldn’t have been selected. He had a lesser period, but now he plays better. This is an opportunity for him,” said national coach Ronald Koeman of the choice for Taylor.
Still, the Ajax player played an unlucky match, because after 33 minutes he was substituted for Wout Weghorst.
After the break, the Orange managed to limit the damage. France became dangerous a few more times, but actually believed it. With his second of the evening, Mbappé makes it 4-0. In injury time, the Orange received a penalty after hands, but Memphis Depay was unable to use it, so that the painful 4-0 remained on the scoreboard.
On Monday, the Orange will play at home against Gibraltar.
Lineup Netherlands: Cillessen; Timber, Geertruida, Van Dijk, Ake; De Roon (Blind/67), Wijnaldum, Taylor (Weghorst/33); Berghuis (Malen/68), Memphis, Simons (Klaassen/68).