Dutch ‘rewarded’ for hard work
Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk lauds team for showing character by qualifying for the semifinals
GELSENKIRCHEN: Netherlands scored twice in the last five minutes to recover from two goals down and earn a 2-2 draw against relegated Germany in the Nations League on Monday to secure a spot in next year’s finals ahead of France.
Virgil van Dijk struck a superb close-range volley in stoppage time to equalise for the visitors after Quincy Promes had cut the deficit in the 85th minute with the Germans having led through early goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane.
Switzerland, England and hosts Portugal had already qualified for the four-team finals in June. The Dutch, on the road to recovery under new manager Ronald Koeman after failing to qualify for the last two major tournaments, topped League A Group 1 despite finishing level on seven points with France due to a better head-to-head record.
“This is the reward for our hard work,” central defender Van Dijk told reporters. “It was good to get the equaliser and qualify. After a moderate first half we wanted to come out stronger after the break. We showed character tonight.”
The Germans, who suffered a shock first-round exit at the World Cup in June and lost a German record six times this year, finished in last place with just two points after what has become a familiar lack of focus this year.
However, their quick young frontline, nicknamed ‘the moped gang’, looked promising and lived up to their tag as 22-year-olds Werner and Sane, plus Serge Gnabry, 23, frightened the Dutch defence with their speed, especially in the first half.
They had already shown their potential in a 3-0 friendly win over Russia on Thursday as coach Joachim Loew made changes after Germany’s World Cup flop and Nations League relegation. “I am a bit disappointed by the result but overall I saw more positives than negatives,” Loew told reporters. “We played a very good first half and should have scored a third in the second half to finish the game. But this kind of thing seems to be the story of our entire year,” he said