Netherlands are into the UEFA Nations League final four after two late goals rescued a 2-2 draw against Germany.
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Needing just a point to top Group 1, Ronald Koeman made two changes to the side that defeated France on Friday with Kenny Tete and Quincy Promes replacing Denzel Dumfries and an injured Steven Bergwijn.
Netherlands looked tired from the start and fell behind in the ninth minute when Timo Werner’s volley surprised Jasper Cillessen and flew into the bottom corner. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as Leroy Sane’s strike deflected off Tete and beat Cillessen.
After a poor opening phase, Netherlands looked to respond but the closest they came was a Memphis Depay free-kick which hit the wall and a Daley Blind cross, which was nearly put into his own net by Niklas Süle. Oranje also lost Ryan Babel to injury as Javairo Dilrosun came on for his debut.
Werner almost made it 3-0 seconds into the second half as Netherlands struggled to deal with the German attack. Koeman swapped the poor Georginio Wijnaldum for Tonny Vilhena, while Dilrosun was forced off after a hamstring issue, with Luuk de Jong coming on.
The changes helped Netherlands get a grip on the game and Memphis went close with a drive pushed around the post by Manuel Neuer. Five minutes before the end, Promes did pull one back with a nice curled finish after being set up by Marten de Roon.
The last five minutes were exciting at both ends but in the 90th minute, Vilhena’s cross was met by Virgil van Dijk, who volleyed in the equaliser.
The point seals Netherlands place as group winners and they progress into the final four alongside England, Portugal and Switzerland. It also means, Netherlands have a play-off spot for Euro 2020, should they fail to finish in the top two of their qualifying group.
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Lets be honest. The Oranje were back to the worst again tonight.
Constant hesitation and back passes plagued the build up, with very little skill or intelligent movement in front of them.
De Jong look exasperated and De Roon and Wijnaldum clueless.
What was the difference?
Germany new how to set up against them. Close down the Wijnaldum and De Roon and give them no options forward.
Then pressure De Jong when they’ve cut out the other options. Win back the ball with dynamic and quick counters.
Blind, Tete, Wijnaldum and De Roon are the not the answer to solving this German gambit. Neither are Promes and Dilsorun.
With Dumfries, Bergwijn and Danjuma we may have a better chance against it.
But the movement and skill in receiving and holding the ball from build up is going to have to be better and the backs have to get off their back heels – if the Oranje are going to take it to the next level.
Because the blueprint is back about how to be us.
De Roon has been superb, I don’t know what you are talking about in regards to him. He made several interceptions the 2nd half to keep it at 2-0, and then both started the move and got and the assist on the 2-1. He’s given them stability and consistency in the holding MF role they have lacked for years. And yes, his primary function is a #6 and not a creative CM, contrary to what you seem to be implying.
You talk about the midfield as though you expect a return to the dazzling teams of the 90’s that could pick defenses apart at will. Get real man, that isn’t going to happen. Although the team has improved significantly in recent months, they simply don’t have enough players with that level of quality.
Step by step the men in Orange are experiencing upward mobility. Congratulations to Ronald Koeman and his footballers.
While nobody would argue your points, it’s useless to only focus on pessimistic points. Look at the big picture. When this group was drawn, against the past two World Cup winners, a lot of people figured Oranje would struggle to even score a goal. This team has come so far under Koeman. Obviously there is a lot of work left, but everyone should believe that they can win the new Nations League with Portugal, England and Switzerland the other teams in the semi-finals.
Oranje got the result they needed in Germany today because they refused to give up. It’s a nice change.
I feel really proud at the way they have fought to turn things around. They have been great.
But last night was like having one foot out of the grave then starting to slip back in.
But yes, it unbelievable what they have achieved.
Bob, ‘they simply don’t have the players’ is exactly my point. And without them the blueprint is there to beat the Oranje. It didn’t work with Koeman’s Everton and didn’t work with Van Gaal’s United. And it hasn’t worked with any Dutch sides in Europe for a long time.
he two exceptions are the current Ajax and PSV sides.
Ajax has Ziyech and Tadic. While PSV has Van Brommel shifting the system. Apart from them it makes for excruciating, boring supporting.
Koeman came up against a side who knew how to beat them. And if Sane had decent forwards around him they would have won 3,4,5-nil. That’s the reality.
I believe in Koeman, Van Dijk, De Ligt and De Jong we have the men to go forward – figuratively and literally.
But despair at the thought of having to watch more of what we saw in the first 80 mins – until we get better players.
Blind is not going to change. We need someone like Dumfries on the other side, young and willing to have a go, with belief in the players around him, rather than the conservatism and hesitation we get on the left.
If we had a LB with the above and more speed, we could have Vilhena left of De Jong, who’s belief and attacking intent should make the side tick along with more purpose.
De Roon’s defense was good. But if he doesn’t bring the play to the next phase that’s all he and the team will be doing – rotating the ball round and defending. Maybe its a bit harsh on him as the movement and skill in front was not good enough. But with De Jong and Vilhenna they demand that of their forwards. And think at this stage Propper is doing that a little bit better.
I just want them to play football with belief, whatever the scoreline ends up. Don’t want to see them reverting back to the bad old days. And while we might not have the Sneijders and Robbens we have enough there not to go back. Hopefully Koeman sees this.
for a moment in the match i remembered the negative possession and the open defence that we used to see back then, germany wasted a lot of chances to double their lead ..there is still a room for improvement but overall we must be happy and proud of what we have seen from this team
Dumfries is way way better than tete
also marteen de roon is so underrated in this squad