Netherlands conceded twice in the last ten minutes to throw away a chance to seal their place at next year’s World Cup. Montenegro fought back to earn a 2-2 draw.
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With Norway only managing a 0-0 draw with Latvia, Netherlands knew a victory would seal their place in next year’s tournament. Louis van Gaal chose Donyell Malen on the right-wing, while Arnaut Danjuma got the nod over Noa Lang.
Montenegro made the better start to the match but in the 25th minute, Davy Klaassen was brought down in the box and Netherlands got a penalty. Memphis Depay slotted in the spot kick to make it 1-0.
Marko Jankovic tested Justin Bijlow before the break, while at the other end, Arnaut Danjuma put an effort wide. Steven Bergwijn was brought on at the break for Malen as Van Gaal looked for an improvement from his side.
In the 54th minute, Memphis netted from a Denzel Dumfries cross as it seemed Netherlands would ease to the World Cup. Van Gaal decided to rest some legs with Teun Koopmeiners, Ryan Gravenberch, and Lang all coming off the bench.
However, it all went wrong for Oranje in the final ten minutes with Ilija Vukotic pulling one back after a counter-attack. Four minutes later, Nikola Vujnovic rose above Daley Blind to head in the equaliser.
It finished 2-2 and the pressure is now firmly on Tuesday’s game with Norway which is now a must-win for Oranje.
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Congrats KNVB. You are doing everything to cost us another WC. First Danny Blind in 2018 now he again (he is in Van Gaal staff) and his son Daley who has heart problems and is too weak and slow for sunday league. I wrote same thing after another KNVB mafia puppet de Boer who cost us Euro 2020. Now another sore looser and KNVB mafia puppet Van Gaal. This is just sad. Same old people are destoying our dreams all the time;(
Incredibly frustrating to watch. It’s like the whole team inexplicably decided to fall asleep in the last 10 mins, midfielders showed no defensive responsibility at all. The pressure is on for Tuesday now and without the crowd, I think Norway has got a decent chance to pull it off. If the Dutch fail to qualify, I’ll be sad but it would certainly be a deserved elimination from a group they should have won easily. They completely blew it today.
Really just another Oranje disappointment now we need a tie against a team that needs to win what a dangerous situation but the Dutch never ever make it easy
How embarrassing after Latvia handed us a gift earlier in the day. Matches in Podgorica will never be pretty to watch, so I was plenty satisfied in the 80th minute, and then it all fell apart. When Montenegro got their first, I could feel right away they would get a second.
I do not understand why Oranje does not match the intensity levels when an opponent turns it up, especially inferior opponents. Tuesday could have been a friendly with a ticket to Qatar sealed, now we need at least a draw in an empty stadium. I just hope that Oranje can finally match an opponent’s intensity. I have no doubt that Norway will bring their best after we gave them a pass and re-ignited their qualification hopes.
You can’t blame it all on the manager.
But Van Gaal, who was on the money post Cruyff and pre tiki taka now is serving up boring and outdated football. He may have intent but the spirit/essence is not there.
Furthermore, what he is trying to do demands relying on a standard of players they aren’t there. Sure Sneijder, Robben and Van Bronkhurst and its a different story.
Its not that these players can’t play but there is no development or confidence in this approach.
Given the current trajectory of the KNVB its hard to see anything really improving until Ten Hag enters the fray, probably in another decade or two.
Ten Hag has managed to take what is good from the legacy of dutch football, develop it and make it relevant in the now. It is something Van Gaal seems incapable of, and clearly something the KNVB is incapable of finding in anyone else.
The midfield dutch 3.
you can play amongst other things 3 midfielders who work together either holding and covering or attacking (3 boxers);
the inverted one holder and 2 boxers;
or the holder, boxer and AM.
Why, in choosing the latter do we have a player like Klassen at AM? Ie someone whose worth not relying on to really defend with the other two must be something special.
We haven’t trusted someone of that calibre since Sneijder played the role coming off the left, meaning he didn’t even inhabit the role. The closest we’ve come in Dutch football is Tadic.
For me the solution lies in either bringing in someone like Lang into that position or moving Depay into that role or something like Til and Depay occupying the 9 and 10.
What we have at the moment is Klassen or hesitant and botched attempts to find a solution. And clearly no progress.
A Dutch team should always have its foundations in the midfield three (in mix of ability, character and cohesion)
Its nearer quicksand than stone and gem atm.