Fresh blood gets Finns and Dutch into Euro race

Paris – A thrilling crop of young players has Euro 2020 in its sights as the Netherlands prepare for a return to the big stage, while Teemu Pukki’s Finland are on the brink of their very first major tournament.

Ronald Koeman’s side need just a draw in Northern Ireland on Saturday to guarantee a spot at their first international tournament since coming third at the 2014 World Cup.

The Dutch had been in the doldrums until the arrival early in 2018 of Koeman, below, with the once mighty Oranje missing out on the previous European Championship and last year’s World Cup in Russia.

Koeman, 56, has revitalised his country’s national team with the help of a crop of young players who are putting a famous footballing nation back on the map.

Rising stars, including Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek and Matthijs de Ligt have joined more experienced campaigners Virgil van Dijk, Georginio Wijnaldum, Daley Blind and Ryan Babel to go top of Group C ahead of the final two rounds of qualifiers.

They are level on 15 points with fierce rivals Germany but above them on head-tohead record and three ahead of Northern Ireland, who realistically need a win to carry on their battle for a spot in the tournament.

A late double in Rotterdam last month from Memphis Depay, 25 – a revelation in qualifying, with six goals in five appearances – helped sink the brave Northern Irish and they now just have to avoid defeat at Windsor Park in Belfast to join the likes of Italy and Spain.

Germany, meanwhile, just need to better Northern Ireland’s result to make sure of their place.

The Finns are also on the verge of making history, with a win over lowly Liechtenstein in Helsinki tomorrow enough to see them qualify for their first European Championship.

They lie second in Group J behind already qualified Italy, thanks to a magical run inspired by the incredible form of Pukki.

The Norwich City striker has scored seven of his side’s 12 goals in eight games, with his brace in a 3-0 win over Armenia last time out opening a fivepoint gap between them and their third-placed opposition. –