Danny Blind may be gone but the result was still the same for Netherlands on Tuesday as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Italy in the Amsterdam Arena.
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Fred Grim took charge for the friendly in front of a watching Louis van Gaal, and the interim boss made several changes to the side disgraced in Sofia. Kenny Tete, Wesley Hoedt, Memphis Depay and Jeremain Lens all came into the side as Grim chose a mobile frontline with pace.
The early signs were great as Netherlands started well and took the lead on ten minutes when Quincy Promes cut in from the left before seeing his shot guided into the net by Italy defender Alessio Romagnoli.
That lead only lasted 60 seconds before the Oranje defence was caught out by a quick free-kick which Wesley Hoedt could only head into the path of Eder, and the forward lashed a shot past Jeroen Zoet.
The setback didn’t hurt Oranje and they continued to dominate and nearly retook the lead through Bruno Martins Indi who sent a header against the bar. However, against the run of play, Italy took the lead just after the half-hour mark. Zoet saved Marco Parolo’s header from a corner but couldn’t prevent Leonardo Bonucci from following up on the rebound.
In the second half, Netherlands dominated possession and camped in the Italy half, but despite some nice actions from Memphis they couldn’t find the equaliser. Promes shot straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma after being played on goal by Jeremain Lens but that was one of the only efforts on goal from a shot shy Oranje side.
Ten minutes from time, Zoet saved well from Leonardo Spinazzola who raced free from Daley Blind to deny Italy a third. Netherlands then poured forward for the last ten minutes, but Wesley Sneijder saw two excellent chances saved by Donnarumma while Martins Indi sent a header over the bar.
Italy held on to cap another disappointing evening for the Dutch national team, who have now only recorded one win in nine home internationals. They will now look to appoint a new head coach by the time they face Morocco at the end of May.
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We couldn’t even net a goal ourselves this week…to a new era and smarter selection! Let’s hope for the best! And I don’t mind the 4-3-3 we can play it, but we need 2 CDMs and an AM. And Cillessen is so much better with his feet than Zoet and he practises against, arguably, the world’s best footballers week in and week out. Start Cillessen! Watching the Bulgaria game, he was scary to watch, Frans Hoek should have told him to work on his left foot as well!
They players had more of a go than against Bulgaria. A reasonable defensive effort by Italy didn’t put them off trying to go forward instead of getting scared and passing back All the time.
Time to bring in van Gaal – for the rest of this campaign. The logical choice. Other ‘more suitable’ or longer term candidates are not available. He can take the pressure and is disciplined.
Only five matches remaining – with Sweden and others improving every game it will be all uphill.
It will be miraculous if we qualify.
Every game the same…defeat and defeat…we must be realistic this team will not see russia 2018 its shame i was proud to be oranje fan now all my friend f***k with me how bad team we are..its shame..
Yes Denilson – we must now have even more patience than ever before. I’m afraid it could be a long drought.
We play home games at a stadium for tourists where there is zero atmosphere. Away teams dont fear playing there. Home games should be played at the more intimidating Kuip in Rotterdam. Stadium and fans from Rotterdam are more vocal, passionate and unlike in Amsterdam not tourists. Away teams wont like playing there and most national team players say the Kuip is there favorite stadium to play at for Holland.
Knvb screwed everything up with their conservative pro psv and Ajax favoritism yet everyone including the man on the moon knew Koeman should have got the job after van gaal. Koemans latest comments about why he wont take the job are right and come as no surprise.
The knvb also need changing and with a better calibre of personnel and decision makers.
LVG’s presence at the stadium means to me that 99% he is the new coach and I fully agree with this choice.
He is a person of radical choices and there are no untouchable players with him.
I like also his flexibility on making the team depending on the oponent, his only problem is that he trustes too much the young unexperienced players!
And maybe Seedorf as his vice!
Agreed Horriho!
Zoet isnt good enough for oranje, Promes and Strootman should stay on the bench also. ..I feel like an absolute traitor but I put $100 on Italy. Easy money.
You might be right about Zoet and, in comparison to Wijnaldum, Strootman should stay on the bench for perhaps a Clasie. But Promes is good enough, the issue there, Robben plays in his natural position…he is no Robben! Not too many are!
Looks like the best news this year for Dutch football will be Feyenoord being champions. They have yhe the most loyal vocal and passionate fans in Holland. Unlike 020 there are no tourists at de Kuip. Its also why Holland should play there home games there. A miles more intimidating atmosphere for opponents.
I also believe that if you have a right footed CB (Veltman) don’t play two left footed! Unless they are the left footed equivalent to say…Van Dijk and de Vrij. And if you were going to put Dost in the team cross into the box and high! He’s 10 feet tall, use it!