Resurgent Dutch surprise world champions France
ROTTERDAM: When the Netherlands beat Germany 3-0 last month, the score flattered the Dutch. Ronald Koeman’s resurgent young team beat France 2-0 on Friday and this time the margin of win flattered the French.
The rampant men in orange, driven forward by the pinpoint passing of midfielder Frenkie de Jong and given a creative spark in attack by Memphis Depay’s trickery, could have scored five. Only a string of saves by France captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris managed to keep the score respectable for the recently crowned world champions.
The Dutch victory relegated Germany from the top tier of the new UEFA Nations League, a second humbling this year after Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage.
Now the Netherlands, who didn’t even qualify for the last World Cup or the 2016 European Championship, need just a draw against Germany on Monday in Gelsenkirchen to win League A Group 1. “This was a complete match at the very highest level,” said Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, who has in a matter of months turned an underachieving team into a European force to be reckoned with.
“I want to congratulate this Dutch team,” France coach Didier Deschamps said. “They played a very good match. They had a lot of quality.”
Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum scored just before half-time and Memphis Depay converted a stoppage-time penalty as the Dutch dominated proceedings.
France tried to play a waiting game, sitting back and hoping to launch speedy 19-year-old striker Kylian Mbappe on the break. But led by midfielder De Jong and centre back Virgil van Dijk, the Dutch not only dominated possession, but also shut down the World Cup star. The result left the Dutch one point behind France in League A Group 1 ahead of the group’s final match.
Elsewhere in the Nations League, Denmark beat Wales 2-1 in Cardiff to secure promotion from League B Group 4.