In an intimidating noisy Estadio Mestalla, that one good match turned out to be no coincidence. After an extremely difficult first half, the Dutch national team showed resilience to three times on Sunday evening in the second meeting against Spain. The Orange fell back three times, three times it made it right. Only through penalties fell, the decision fell, in favor of the home team.
Due to the late defeat, the Netherlands gets stuck in the fourth edition of the Nations League in the quarterfinals, after a place in the semi -final two years ago. Perhaps a disappointment, given the handful possibilities to decide the match. But even more than a nice boost, for a team that has often been playing football very difficult for more than a year.
After the first meeting in Rotterdam (2-2), national coach Ronald Koeman was asked if one good match against Spain was worth something if the second were disappointing. Koeman had to think for a long time. Not really, he finally answered. After Thursday, critics could still speak of happiness, claim that Spain only played at half strength. Now, in their own house, they would be “aggravated”, come up with new plans.
In that plan, it appears on Sunday, the Spanish national coach Luis de la Fuente opts for four new players. One is inevitable, due to the injury of center defender Pau Cubarsí, but the rest tactical. With Dani Olmo he sets up an attacking midfielder who plays even deeper than Pedri, with Mikel Oyarzabal a striker who sinks more and runs out of position than Álvaro Morata.
Hesitant
With that changed approach, the Dutch national team has a lot of trouble. Also because the Orange starts the game extremely hesitantly. Already in the first minute Frenkie de Jong visibly searched for his own goal. In the absence of play opportunities, he then opts for goalkeeper Verbruggen, a play ball so inaccurately that he almost enters his own goal.
Spain quickly punishes that uncertainty and, just like in Rotterdam, opens the score after eight minutes. This is done through a penalty kick caused by central defender Jan Paul van Hecke who collides with Oyarzabal. It is severely punished, but referee Clément Turpin does not hesitate. After several minutes of Dutch protest, Oyarzabal herself hit.
From that moment the home team opts for an on-Spanish approach. The reigning European champion is known for its insatiable urge to attack, the will to always have the ball, or to claim it through fierce pressure. But after that opening goal, Spain awaits, in a compact block for its own goal, and then mercilessly returns to each Dutch mistake.
The fact that it is still 1-0 at half time is almost completely due to goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who several times with spectacular rescues occurs a second Spanish goal. But after the break, the Netherlands gets chances for the first time, first via Justin Kluivert and then after a pass from Jeremie Frimpong. His ball goes to Spits Memphis Depay who is pulled to the ground. The Netherlands also gets a penalty, this time the injured party himself also shoots: 1-1.
Spectacle
From then on a game starts so full of spectacle that he could have taken four hours. Spain starts playing football again, but self -confidence is also back in the Netherlands. Alternately both teams get opportunities, until Oyarzabal Spain again helps a lead. His rocker is still coming against the head of Verbruggen, in the resit the bask is still heading.
For Koeman that is the time to change. Among other things, he brings Noa Lang and Xavi Simons into the team, which together form the basis of the second Dutch goal. That starts with an action by Lang, who again picks up his own shed lead and responds to Simons. He sees left back Ian Maatssen the depth in sprinting. Maatsen then hunts the ball at the top of the goal.
In the extension it continues like this. Of high level, football is no longer, but there are plenty of tension and opportunities. And again the Netherlands gives away a goal, if sizes are mistaken in a high ball and let Yamal walk out of his back. Five minutes later, Simons shoots in the 3-3 from a penalty kick, after he has worked to the ground by the Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón.
Even in the penalties series it goes right for a long time. After long his bet shoots hard, Yamal then also misses his attempt: the shot is too weak and is stopped by Verbruggen. But if grinding in the sixth attempt, Spain will decide the competition. Verbruggen chooses the right corner, but Pedri’s shot is too hard.
Afterwards, in addition to disappointment, it was particularly proud, said Koeman. The Netherlands lost, “but you also win a lot”. He saw resilience and mentality with his players. “We really tackled Spain,” he thought. “We have now demonstrated what we can and should expect from each other.”