The Dutch team qualifies for the World Cup after a goal celebration against Lithuania

Koeman still has 206 days to really get his selection ready for the World Cup, because although the Dutch team has come out of their way, they have to do much better in June and July 2026 to play a significant role in the World Cup. After the sleep-inducing match in Poland (1-1), in which the Dutch team already achieved unofficial qualification for the World Cup on Friday, but reached a questionable level, it was important to win the hearts of the Dutch fans again against Lithuania. Koeman and his players had to make the chagrin around the Dutch national team disappear and wanted to start doing that in the last qualifying match. The good intentions of the agile Dutch team could and should have yielded many more goals before halftime.

For Xavi Simons, who replaced the injured Justin Kluivert, the meeting with the number 146 in the world was the ideal moment to assert himself again. The attacking midfielder has not yet found his niche or goal at his new club Tottenham Hotspur and – with only two starting places until the match against Lithuania – had made a minimal contribution to the Netherlands’ qualification for the World Cup. During the important match in Poland, he remained on the bench for ninety minutes.

Okay, welcome surprise

The announcement that he would play against the Lithuanians was also a welcome surprise for veteran Nathan Aké. For Micky van de Ven’s replacement, it only meant the fifth starting place of the season after two appearances in the Premier League and two in the League Cup. For his club Manchester City, he only started nine percent of the games and played only twenty percent of all minutes.

In Orange, his figures in this qualifying series until Lithuania at home were even sadder. Aké played 62 minutes in Lithuania and 19 minutes at home against Finland. Although the limited playing time in England could be a reason for Koeman to no longer select Aké, he seems to be assured of his place as one of the leaders of the Dutch team for the time being.

Reijnders opens the ball

Lutsharel Geertruida had to pay for his weak performance against Poland with a place on the bench and was relieved as right back by Jurriën Timber, leaving a spot available for Matthijs de Ligt in the defensive heart. In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch (still a starter in Warsaw) and Tijjani Reijnders (reserve against Poland) exchanged pennies.

The Manchester City midfielder turned out to be the best man together with Cody Gakpo and Frenkie de Jong Oranjes. On a pass from Frenkie, he convincingly scored the 1-0 after sixteen minutes and after a brilliant attack he also had the 2-0 on his shoe, but he shot the ball against the post with the outside of his foot. De Jong should have already had two assists instead of one at that moment. His pass to Cody Gakpo was delicate; the left winger’s header too soft.

All brakes loose for the Dutch national team

It was illustrative of the initial lack of sharpness in the Netherlands, which was underlined by Jurriën Timber who failed to score the ball from Gakpo’s cross from close range. Virgil van Dijk – he wore the band around his arm for the 72nd time – could have crowned what was for him a special match with a goal. However, the record captain’s header from a Memphis Depay corner was turned away.

In the second act, after a shameful handball had been punished with a penalty, all brakes were released within twenty minutes via Gakpo (penalty kick), Simons and Donyell Malen. After which Koeman gave his strongmen Frenkie, Jurriën Timber and Memphis a rest and gave Quinten Timber, Geertruida and Emmanuel Emegha playing minutes. After Emegha almost scored his first international goal (post), Luciano Valente made his debut in the Orange shirt as a replacement for Simons and Noa Lang relieved the strong Gakpo.