Stiff and sloppy The Dutch need two penalties to break Malta’s resistance

In an encounter that was ideal to boost confidence, the Dutch team struggled to make a difference for a long time on Thursday. It took two penalties to break the resistance of Malta, number 166 in the world rankings. Only in the final phase of the World Cup qualifying match did the Dutch team clearly improve: 4-0.

Four months earlier, Malta, in Euroborg in Groningen, had been an easy victim for the team of national coach Ronald Koeman. In that match, the team did not get a grip on the constant movement of the Dutch attackers and midfielders. That spring evening, the crowd was treated to an exuberant 8-0, the biggest victory for the national team in thirteen years.

After the previous international match, the Netherlands could use such a boost. In the match against Poland, the main competitor in the group, the team was surprised. The Dutch team had taken the lead, but then relinquished the initiative, after which Poland equalized just before the end. A few days later, against modest Lithuania, the Dutch team had given away a 2-0 lead, barely averting another blow.

But, Koeman warned before leaving for the Mediterranean island: it would be difficult to achieve the same results as in June. According to him, the match in Groningen went “optimally” and outplaying an opponent so convincingly “is also a bit easier at home than away”. An early goal would of course help. And then it was important to keep pushing, unlike against Poland and Lithuania.

Early opening goal

That opening goal came as quickly as hoped on Thursday. He is introduced by a fast sprint from Ryan Gravenberch, who is knocked over in the penalty area. Striker Wout Weghorst hits the target, but then it turns out that the referee has already blown his whistle for a foul. First he approves the goal, then he withdraws that decision to give a penalty. Left winger Cody Gakpo hits the target.

Yet the Netherlands is not convincing until that goal, and not at all after that. Football is often hesitant, nervous and sloppy. After just two minutes, captain Virgil van Dijk almost gives away a goal by playing back to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen without looking. Flank player Joseph Mbong of Malta intercepts, but shoots just wide.

Malta is not good enough to really make things difficult for the Netherlands after such mistakes. But the worrying thing is that the Netherlands rarely causes problems for the home team. The pace is too slow for large parts of the match, meaning that the Dutch players rarely escape the cover. That was also an important cause of the collapse against Lithuania, according to Koeman.

In the center, the Dutch team has difficulty finding a free man. This often works on the flanks, but there the wing defenders and wing attackers often get in each other’s way. The result is that it rarely becomes truly dangerous. In the first half, the Dutch team only had two shots on target, including that penalty.

Mistakes Malta

It is mistakes by the opponent that make the difference shortly after the break, not opportunities that the Netherlands creates through careful build-up or nice positional play. Defender Enrico Pepe who hangs around Weghorst too conspicuously, and concedes a penalty (Gakpo again). Goalkeeper Henry Bonello who fumbles during the build-up and hands over the ball (Tijiani Reijnders scores).

Only towards the end of the match did the Netherlands show some of the dominance that was also visible in the Euroborg. Koeman has now made three substitutions: Weghorst has been replaced by Memphis Depay, and Donyell Malen and Justin Kluivert have brought players into the field who pose a greater threat. It resulted in a whole series of chances in the last fifteen minutes, and the 4-0 by Depay. Still a wide final score, which suggests better football than the Dutch team showed in large parts of the match.

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